Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene to Aniline over Silica Gel Supported Nickel Catalysts

Nanosized silica gel supported Ni catalysts that have average Ni particle size of 3.7, 11.4, and 11.8 nm were prepared by facile impregnation of different Ni precursors and used for hydrogenation of nitrobenzene (NB). These catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that Ni dispersed highly on the surface of silica gel in the catalyst prepared via Ni(en)3(NO3)2, and the detected average Ni particle size was 3.7 nm. On the 3.7 nm sized Ni catalyst, the selectivity of aniline (AN) reached 99% with a 100% conversion of NB in 5.5 h at 90 °C, 1.0 MPa, and NB:Ni = 305 (mole ratio). But, the activities of 11.8 nm sized Ni catalysts and commercial Raney Ni catalyst are quite lower. The reaction network and mechanism of NB hydrogenation on 3.7 nm sized Ni catalyst were discussed on the basis of products distributions at different temperatures and pressures. The calculated activation energy of NB hydrogenation on Ni-5/SiO2-EN catalyst is 54.5 kJ/mol in 70−90 °C.