Effect of Process Features and Parameters of Preparation of a Nickel Catalyst by Reduction of Nickel Nitrate with Hexamethylenetetramine on the Catalyst Performance in Synthesis of Nanofibrous Carbon

Abstract

A promising method based on solution combustion was considered for preparing a catalyst for the synthesis of nanofibrous carbon and hydrogen. The temperature profile of the hexamethylenetetramine combustion front in the bulk of the catalyst precursor is presented on the basis of process imaging. Catalyst samples were tested in a quartz tubular reactor at a temperature of 550°С and a pressure of 1 atm with methane as reaction medium. The influence exerted by the procedure for introducing hexamethylenetetramine into the nitrate base of the catalyst on the performance of the catalyst precursor in synthesis of nanofibrous carbon was studied. The catalyst was obtained as solid foam-like agglomerate (mean size of NiO particles 13.8–35.2 nm).