FT-IR and TGA of MCF Silica-Supported Nickel Catalyst

In the present study, active site–support bonds in calcined and reduced catalysts of MCF silica-supported nickel catalysts were investigated using FTIR analyses. FTIR results show the presence of nickel phyllosilicate bonds (-O-Ni-O-Si) in the calcined catalysts.However, nickel phyllosilicate bonds were not detected in the reduced catalysts indicating that nickel phyllosilicate bons were absence after reduction process. FTIR results confirmed the presence of Ni-O-Si bond in the reduced catalysts. TGA analyses were also carried to investigate catalyst stability in terms of weight loss, thermal behaviour and structural destruction. According to the TGA results, dried catalyst of MCF silica-supported nickel catalyst showed weight loss of around 9% in a region from room temperature to 300 ᵒC and weigh loss of 6% at above 300 ᵒC. Weight loss from room temperature to 300 ᵒC was ascribed to desorption of physisorbed and chemisorbed water. Meanwhile, weight loss at above 300 ᵒC could be due to slow decompositions of nickel phyllosilicate to the formation of nickel oxide.