EFFECT OF PREPARATION VARIABLES ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF PRECIPITATED NICKEL-SILICA CATALYSTS

Abstract Composition of the precursors and its effect on the crystallinity of Ni–SiO2 catalysts were studied using thermal gravimetry and X-ray diffraction measurement. The severer preparation conditions led to the lower proportion of NiCO3 in the precursor. The mean crystallite size of Ni in H2-reduced catalysts, and hence the activity and enantioselecivity of modified catalysts, were found to depend on the proportion of NiCO3.