Ni-Co-Cr/Al2O3/Al Catalysts with a Nanostructured Active Component: Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Activity in the Reaction of Toluene Steam Dealkylation

Abstract

It is shown that the reaction of toluene steam dealkylation can be intensified in the presence of microwave radiation-absorbing Ni-Co-Cr/Al2O3/Al catalysts with the nanostructured active component under application of a microwave electromagnetic field to the reaction medium. It is found that the favorable effect of microwave radiation on the rate of reaction and selectivity for the target product benzene is most probably related to the formation of a more developed active surface owing to the formation of Ni and Co chromites as uniformly distributed nanosized clusters with linear sizes of 20–80 nm.