Mesoporous MgO and Ni–MgO prepared by using carboxylic acids

Abstract

MgO and NiO–MgO with large mesopores were prepared by using the corresponding nitrates and carboxylic acids. Their pore structures were characterized by N₂ adsorption, and reduced Ni–MgO samples were used in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of ketone. The mesopore size of MgO was controllable with the alkyl-chain length of the carboxylic acid in the range between 13 and 38 nm. The mesopores are located at the MgO interparticles. In the hydrogenation of 4-heptanone to 4-heptanol, the catalytic activity of the Ni–MgO, which had mesopores at 11 nm, prepared using dodecanoic acid was higher than that of a commercial Raney Ni with mesopores around 4 nm, while the Ni surface of the Ni–MgO was lower than that of a Raney Ni catalyst. At an optimum regulated size of mesopores, the Ni–MgO catalyst would show high catalytic activity satisfying both rapid mass transfer of the reactants and high dispersion of Ni metals on the catalyst surface.