Particle Size of Nickel in Nickel–Alumina Catalysts and Its Effects on Propene Hydrogenation

The particle size of nickel in Ni/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by the alkoxide technique is well controlled by changing the metal concentration in the catalyst. The rate of propene hydrogenation over the catalyst increases with decrease in Ni particle size, and this phenomenon is explained on the assumption that nickel atoms located on edges and/or corners of crystallites may contribute predominantly to the hydrogenation of propene.