Effects of nickel source material on characteristics of nickel/alumina impregnated catalysts.

A characterization study was undertaken with eighteen kinds of nickel/alumina impregnated catalysts prepared by using three nickel compounds (nickel (II) acetylacetonate, nickel (II) acetate and nickel (II) chloride) as the nickel source material and by applying two impregnation methods (single and multiple). The catalysts prepared by using nickel (II) acetylacetonate and nickel (II) acetate showed a similar distribution and average of nickel particle diameters regardless of nickel source material or impregnation method. The distribution broadening and the average increased with increasing nickel content for the catalysts prepared by using nickel (II) chloride. The rate of benzene hydrogenation was proportional to the nickel surface area regardless of nickel source material or impregnation method.