Reactivation of Promoted Nickel Catalysts for Deuterium Exchange between Hydrogen and Water in the Vapour Phase

Binary promoted nickel – chromium oxide and ternary promoted nickel – chromium oxide – aluminium oxide mixed catalysts were prepared for use in the present study. The catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation of the corresponding metal nitrates as carbonates followed by calcination in nitrogen atmosphere at 350 °C and reduction in hydrogen atmosphere at 320 °C. To prevent spontaneous oxidation of the catalysts, bidistilled water was added followed by heating of the catalyst mixtures at about 110 °C in hydrogen atmosphere for few hours. Deactivation of catalysts was studied by measurements of the variation of their activities with the time of contact of the reacting gas mixtures with the catalyst surface in the reaction chamber. It was found that while the catalytic activity of ternary catalysts for the isotopic exchange of deuterium between hydrogen and water vapour was higher than that of the binary one, the loss in activity of the former teas faster than the latter. Reactivation of the catalysts were carried out at different temperatures between 110–160°C in hydrogen atmosphere. Catalytic activity measurements indicated that higher temperatures are better for the reactivation process.     

Nickel/Chromium oxide/Zirconium oxide Catalysts for Hydrogen/Deuterium Isotopic Exchange

Catalysts composed of nickel and promoted with different metal oxides proved to be suitable for H/D isotropic exchange between hydrogen and water vapour. They loss their activity due to water condensation on their surfaces. Several nickel/chromium oxide/zirconium oxide catalysts of different composition were prepared by the coprecipitation technique. The liquid phase activity of these catalysts were followed using the hydrogen peroxide decomposition on their surfaces at different temperatures. The surface characteristics of the examined catalysts were followed by applying the BET method. The results were discussed and lead to the required catalyst composition which resists the water condensation on its surface during operation and has relatively high activity in the vapour phase H/D isotopic exchange reaction between hydrogen and water.     

Hydrophobic Bimetallic Catalysts for H/D Exchange Reaction between Hydrogen and Water

Hydrophobic bimetallic catalysts of Pt-M on styrenedivinylbenzene were prepared, where M represents successively: Ir, Rh, Pd, Cu and Ag. The total metal loading was 0.5 wt% and the weight fractions of the metal M were: 0.0,0.05,0.1,0.25,0.5,0.75 and 1.0. For each sample, the catalytic activity for H/D exchange between hydrogen and water vapor was measured. In case of monometallic catalysts, no activity was detected for M = Cu and M = Ag, and the order of the activity values for the other metals was: Pt < Ir < Rh < Pd. For each bimetallic catalyst, the activity measurements indicated a clear interaction between the platinum and the second metal, thus the activity was significantly increased for M = Ir, increased for M = Rh, decreased for M = Pd, drastically decreased for M = Cu and M = Ag.     

H/D Isotopic Exchange between Hydrogen and Water Vapour on Ni/Cr2O3/ThO2 Catalysts

Thoriumdioxide was selected as a second promoter for nickel catalyst in addition to chromium oxide which was proved to be suitable to accelerate the H/D isotopic exchange reaction between hydrogen and water vapour. A series of Ni/Cr₂O₃/ThO₂ catalysts were prepared by the co-precipitation technique. The amount of Ni was 70 … 90 mol%, while that of Cr₂O₃ was 0 … 20 mol% and that of ThO₂ ranges from 0 … 30 mol%. This type of catalysts is sensitive for water condensation on its surface. The total surface area, total pore volume and pore radius of the catalysts were calculated from nitrogen adsorption on their surfaces at 77 K and application of the BET-equation.     

Hydrogen-Water Deuterium Exchange Reaction Over Mixed Oxide Supported Nickel Catalysts

Three series of catalysts, Ni/Al₂O₃-SiO₂, Ni/Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃ and Ni/SiO₂-Cr₂O₃, were prepared by co-precipitation. In all samples the nickel content was kept constant at 70 at.% Ni, while the support composition was varied. The nickel surface areas, which are required to measure the specific catalytic activities, were determined by hydrogen chemisorption. In the case of the single oxide supported nickel catalysts, the order of the specific catalytic activity values was: Ni/Cr₂O₃<Ni/Al₂O₃<Ni/SiO₂. The specific catalytic activity of the Ni/Al₂O₃-SiO₂ samples, as a function of the support composition, follows approximately the weighted sum of the specific activities of the single oxide supported nickel catalysts. The specific catalytic activity value of the Ni/Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃ and Ni/SiO₂-Cr₂O₃ samples more closely resembled that of Ni/Cr₂O₃ catalyst. The presence on chromia surface of the chromic anhydride and its tendency to spread onto are supposed to be the cause of this behaviour. Due to their enhanced activity, the Ni/Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃ catalysts can be used for the production and detritiation of heavy water.     

Supported Nickel-Cobalt Oxide Catalysts for the Isotopic Exchange of Deuterium between Hydrogen and Water Vapour

The specific catalytic activity of supported nickel-cobalt (II) oxide catalysts for the isotopic exchange of deuterium between hydrogen and water in the vapour phase was tested. The specific surface area of the catalysts was evaluated by nitrogen adsorption at ?195.8 °C and application of the BET-equation. The specific metallic surface area for these catalysts was carried out at liquid nitrogen temperature by hydrogen adsorption. Comparison between the specific activity of the catalysts and the specific surface area and specific metallic surface area teas made. The results of this study indicated that nickel catalysis supported with 15 – 20 mole% CoO exhibit a relatively high catalytic activity for the isotopic exchange reaction between hydrogen and water vapour, high specific surface area and high specific metallic surface area.