Nickel-based xerogel catalysts: Synthesis via fast sol-gel method and application in catalytic hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol

作者：Feng, Jin; Wang, Qiang; Fan, Dongliang; Ma, Lirong; Jiang, Deli; Xie, Jimin^*; Zhu, Jianjun^*

来源：Applied Surface Science, 2016, 382: 135-143.

DOI：10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.04.125

• Ni-based xerogel catalysts
• p-Nitrophenol
• Hydrogenation
• High selectivity
• Reutilization

In order to investigate the roles of three-dimensional network structure and calcium on Ni catalysts, the Ni, Ni-Al2O3, Ni-Ca-Al2O3 xerogel catalysts were successfully synthesized via the fast sol-gel process and chemical reduction method. The crystal structure of three different catalysts was observed with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption were employed to investigate the role of network structure of xerogel catalysts and the size distribution of Ni nanoparticles. The catalyst composition was determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurement and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) experiments were carried out to investigate the reducibility of nickel species and the interaction between nickel species and alumina. The catalytic hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol was investigated over the prepared nickel based xerogel catalysts. The conversion of p-nitrophenol was monitored by UV spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results show that the catalysts are highly selective for the conversion of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol and the order of catalytic activities of the catalysts is Ni < Ni-Al2O3 < Ni-Ca-Al2O3. The catalysts were recycled and were used to evaluate the reutilization.

• 出版日期2016-9-30
• 单位江苏大学