Study of Cu–Ni/SiO2 catalyst prepared from a novel precursor, [Cu(H2O)6][Ni(dipic)2].2H2O/SiO2, for water gas shift reaction

Silica-supported copper–nickel bimetallic catalyst was prepared from [Cu(H2O)6][Ni(dipic)2].2H2O/SiO2 precursor. The cationic–anionic complex, [Cu(H2O)6][Ni(dipic)2].2H2O, was prepared from the reaction of (NH4)2[Ni(dipic)2] with Cu(NO3)2.3H2O in water and characterized by elemental analysis, conductometric and various spectroscopy techniques such as FT-IR, UV–vis and atomic absorption. The physicochemical characteristics of both precursor and calcined catalyst were carried out using X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis methods (TGA and DSC), FT-infrared, scanning electron microscopy and BET specific surface area. The catalyst was evaluated for water gas shift reaction. When the Cu–Ni/SiO2 catalyst was used for water gas shift reaction at 300 °C and atmospheric pressure, the CO conversion and CO2 selectivity were about 97.83% and 98.67%, respectively, showing higher activity and selectivity than the reference catalyst prepared by impregnation conventional method.