Catalytic storage of hydrogen: Hydrogenation of toluene over a nickel/silica aerogel catalyst in integral flow conditions

Abstract

The feasibility of the hydrogenation of toluene into methylcyclohexane over a Ni/SiO 2aerogel catalyst in a flow fixed bed reactor has been demonstrated in the temperature range 90 to 150°C. In order to avoid thermal limitations the Ni/SiO 2, aerogel had to be mechanically mixed with steel wool (in active by itself). In integral conditions of conversion the reaction mechanism obeyed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model involving reactants both strongly adsorbed on specific sites and exhibiting a global reaction order of zero. The energy of activation was found to be 47 kJ/mol. The catalytic activity was found to be very stable with time on stream.