Journal of Sustainable Energy (Dec 2023)
APPLICATION OF INCIPIENT WET IMPREGNATION (IWI) METHODOLOGY IN THE SYNTHESIS OF Ni/SiO2 CATALYSTS FOR HYDRODEOXYGENATION PROCESSES
Abstract
The development of efficient catalysts is crucial for various industrial processes, including petrochemical production, hydrogenation reactions, and environmental remediation. Nickel-based catalysts have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional catalytic properties, cost-effectiveness, and wide applicability. In recent years, wet impregnation has emerged as a promising method for synthesizing nickel-based catalysts with enhanced performance and stability. This abstract aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the inception of wet impregnation as a preferred technique for preparing nickel-based catalysts. It highlights the fundamental principles and mechanisms involved in the wet impregnation process, emphasizing the critical factors influencing catalyst performance, such as precursor selection, impregnation solvent, impregnation methods, and post-impregnation treatments. Wet impregnation involves the deposition of catalytically active species onto a support material through the utilization of a liquid phase. The process begins with the selection of a suitable nickel precursor, which plays a pivotal role in determining the final catalyst properties. Various nickel salts, such as nickel nitrate, nickel acetate, or nickel chloride, have been employed as precursors, each offering unique advantages and challenges. The choice of impregnation solvent is another crucial aspect that affects the catalyst's physicochemical properties. Solvents like water, alcohols, or organic acids are commonly used, and their selection depends on factors such as precursor solubility, stability, and environmental considerations. Different impregnation methods, including incipient wetness impregnation, pore filling impregnation, and vacuum impregnation, have been explored to achieve uniform distribution of the active species on the support material. The impregnation process parameters, such as impregnation time, temperature, and pH, are carefully optimized to control the loading and dispersion of the active phase. Post-impregnation treatments, such as drying, calcination, and reduction, significantly influence the final catalyst properties, including surface area, crystallinity, and metal-support interactions. The choice and optimization of these treatments are critical to achieving desired catalytic performance and stability. The inception of wet impregnation as a method for nickel-based catalyst synthesis has enabled the tailoring of catalyst properties, such as particle size, surface area, and metal dispersion, to meet specific reaction requirements. Additionally, the versatility of wet impregnation allows the incorporation of various promoters or modifiers, further enhancing the catalyst's activity and selectivity. In conclusion, the inception of wet impregnation has revolutionized the synthesis of nickel-based catalysts, providing a flexible and efficient approach to engineer catalytic materials. By understanding the key factors influencing catalyst performance, this research exploits the potential of wet impregnation to design advanced nickel-based catalysts for diverse industrial applications.
