Preparation of Ni-MCM-41 by equilibrium adsorption — Catalytic evaluation for the direct conversion of ethene to propene

摘要

Ni-MCM-41 has been prepared by equilibrium adsorption of different nickel precursors. Nickel citrate and nickel nitrate gave the most active catalysts for the direct transformation of ethene into propene above 250 °C at atmospheric pressure. The maximal ethene conversion at 400 °C was 36% while propene selectivity reached 45%. Analysis of product formation spectra at different temperatures, residence times and inlet compositions revealed reaction kinetics consistent with a sequence of ethene dimerization, positional butene isomerization and propene retro-metathesis.