A simple method to prepare highly active and dispersed Ni/MCM-41 catalysts by co-impregnation

•Highly active and dispersed Ni/MCM-41 catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation.•Co-impregnation enhanced interaction between NiO and MCM-41 surface.•Additive ethylene glycol resulted in formation of small particles (about 3.5nm).•The hydrogenation conversion of naphthalene could reach 100% at 55 °C.

A simple method for preparing highly active and dispersed supported metal catalysts was developed by co-impregnation. Compared with conventional wetness impregnation, addition of moderate ethylene glycol into the metal nitrate aqueous solution could enhance interaction with MCM-41 surface, resulting in formation of very small NiO particle size (3.5 nm) and high dispersion of the active phase. The Ni/MCM-41 catalysts using co-impregnation exhibited excellent catalytic performance for low temperature hydrogenation of naphthalene with 100% conversion at 55 °C, which could rival the activity of commercial Raney Ni catalyst. The obtained catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, TG-DSC, FT-IR, BET and TPR.

Graphical abstractCo-impregnation with ethylene glycol enhanced NiO dispersion and decreased particle size, which effectively improved the catalytic activity for low temperature hydrogenation of naphthalene.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide