Nickel-Containing Catalysts of Ethylene Conversion for Synthesizing Motor Fuel Components and Light Alkenes

Polyfunctional nickel-containing catalysts based on B2O3–Al2O3 and MoO3–Al2O3 oxide supports have been synthesized by sequential impregnation and studied in the conversion of ethylene into C5+ alkenes or propylene. The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts has been studied using X-ray diffraction analysis, IR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO, UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), temperature-programmed reduction of hydrogen (H2-TPR), and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPD-NH3). The most active catalysts of ethylene oligomerization are NiO/B2O3–Al2O3, where Ni2+ cations chemically bounded to the acidic support are formed. NiO/MoO3–Al2O3 activity in conversion of ethylene to propylene is provided by the presence on the surface of ethylene dimerization active sites, i.e., Ni2+ cations bounded with the support acidic sites, and active sites of metathesis based on monomolybdate species.