MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves supported nickel—physico-chemical properties and catalytic activity in hydrogenation of benzene

Abstract

Siliceous, aluminosilicate and niobosilicate mesoporous molecular sieves of MCM-41 type have been used as matrices for nickel incorporated via the wet impregnation. The N 2 adsorption, XRD, H 2-TPR and Ni dispersion study were applied for the characterization of the prepared catalysts. The metal–support interaction (MSI) was the highest in Ni/NbMCM-41 material as indicated from H 2-TPR results, in which the highest dispersion of nickel occurs. Hydrogen chemisorption strength and the reducibility of Ni-species are inversely proportional to MSI strength. Both parameters determine the catalytic activity of the mesoporous materials in the hydrogenation of benzene at higher temperatures (423–473 K), whereas their activity at lower temperatures increases with increasing Ni dispersion. The kinetic study allows the determination of the activation energy in the benzene hydrogenation on Ni/MCM-41 which is very low, 36.5 kJ mol −1.