Effects of neodymium on the properties of Ni-B/CNTs amorphous alloy catalyst

Abstract

Neodymium is used as a promoter of Ni-B/CNTs amorphous alloy catalyst to modify its catalytic properties. Ni-B/CNTs and Ni-Nd(5wt%)-B/CNTs catalysts were prepared by the impregnation chemical reduction method. Their catalytic performances were examined in acetylene selective hydrogenation, which is a crucial step in industrial polymerization processes, with the aim of the complete elimination of alkynes from alkene feedstocks. Experiments showed that the latter exhibited higher acetylene hydrogenation activity but lower ethylene selectivity. Catalysts were characterized by ICP, CO-chemisorption, XPS, XRD and H2-TPD techniques. On the basis of characterizations, the modification of Nd on Ni-B/CNTs catalyst was related to its geometric and electronic effects.