METHOD OF PREPARING HIGHLY ACTIVE NICKEL CATALYSTS

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe instant invention relates to a method for preparing highactivity supported nickel catalysts. The method comprises the depositionof nickel nitrate on a carrier, typically an inert inorganic refractoryoxide, by techniques known in the art followed by careful heating to atemperature of between 100 to 270°C., avoiding any excursions into temp-eratures beyond the stated maxima, in a flowing nonreactive gas atomspherefor a time sufficient to convert substantially all of the nickel nitrateinto nickel oxide. When using an H2 containing atmosphere the maximumtemperature is 220°C. The supported nickel oxide resulting from the aboveprocedure is them reduced to a supported nickel metal catalyst in a re-ducing atmosphere at a temperature ranging from about 230°C. to 400°C.The instant invention also relates to a new class of supported nickelmetal catalysts having a specific activity of at least twice the specificactivities of prior art catalyst as determined for the hydrogenation ofbenzene. These catalysts comprise from 0.1 to 50 weight % nickel on asupport, preferably 0.5 to 20 weight I nickel, most preferably about 17weight % nickel on a support wherein the support is as defined above.