Egg-shell Ni/Al 2 O 3 Catalyst for the Hydrogenation of Mixed C 5 Alkenes

Abstract A process of Ni/Al 2 O 3 eggshell type catalyst preparation has been developed in laboratory scale. Active catalysts with high Ni content, in which the active metal is concentrated in a very thin layer below the particle surface, were prepared by this process. Wet impregnation of carrier particles with a solution of inorganic Ni salt in organic solvent, in particular ethanol and acetone, was the basic principle of the preparation method. Catalysts with a maximum Ni content of 20.9 mass %, concentrated into a layer of thickness of 770 µm were prepared when ethanol was used as the solvent, while 15.4 % Ni maximum concentration and 622 µm layer thickness were achieved when acetone was used as the solvent. The catalysts prepared were characterized by following analytical methods: XRD, BET, Raman spectroscopy and EDS. The catalysts activities were tested in the gas phase C 5 olefins hydrogenation. Despite the lower Ni content, the catalyst impregnated by Ni nitrate, dissolved in acetone was characterized by higher activity in comparison with the catalyst impregnated by ethanol solution