Activation of nickel–chromium hydrogenation catalysts with hydrogen

The kinetics of the reduction of nickel cations in nickel oxide and nickel–chromium catalysts whose oxide precursors have different structures has been investigated by thermal analysis. The reduction of nickel oxide with a hydrogen-containing gas takes place at 250–330°C. The apparent activation energy of this reaction is about 88 kJ/mol. The introduction of up to 30 at % chromium cations into the nickel oxide structure shifts the reduction temperature of nickel in the oxide phase to 300–450°C and increases the apparent activation energy of the reduction of nickel cations to ∼108 kJ/mol. The introduction of 67 at % chromium into nickel oxide results in the formation of an oxide precursor with a spinel structure. The apparent activation energy of the reduction of nickel cations in this spinel is about 163 kJ/mol. The results of this study can be used in optimizing the composition of Ni-containing hydrogenation catalysts and their activation and operation conditions.