Composition and structure of pyrophoric nickel catalysts according to X-ray diffraction data

Abstract

The properties of a nickel catalyst obtained by treatment of nickel–aluminum alloy with sodium hydroxide in the presence of H₂O₂ and additionally stabilized with increased pressure were studied. Additional stabilization decreased the catalyst activity by 25%, but gave a more distinct picture for an XRD analysis of the active catalyst surface and decreased the time of deactivation of the dehydrated catalyst with air oxygen. The catalyst stabilization was explained by the displacement of water, decrease in the pore size, and surface inhomogeneity.