Method of preparing highly active nickel catalysts and catalysts prepared by said method

摘要

The instant invention relates to a method for preparing high activity supported nickel catalysts. The method comprises the deposition of nickel nitrate on a carrier, typically an inert inorganic refractory oxide, by techniques known in the art followed by careful heating to a temperature of between 100° to 270° C., avoiding any excursions into temperatures beyond the stated maxima, in a flowing nonreactive gas atmosphere for a time sufficient to convert substantially all of the nickel nitrate into nickel oxide. When using an H.sub.2 containing atmosphere the maximum temperature is 220° C. The supported nickel oxide resulting from the above procedure is then reduced to a supported nickel metal catalyst in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature ranging from about 230° C. to 400° C.PP The instant invention also relates to a new class of supported nickel metal catalysts having a specific activity of at least twice the specific activities of prior art catalysts as determined for the hydrogenation of benzene. These catalysts comprise from 0.1 to 50 wt. % nickel on a support, preferably 0. 5 to 20 wt. % nickel, most preferably about 17 wt. % nickel on a support, wherein the support is as defined above.