Synthesis of Ni-containing mesoporous molecular sieves and its catalytic activity for benzene hydrogenation

Silicon-based mesoporous molecular sieves with or without nickel were synthesized by the hydrothermal method.The samples were characterized with XRD, FT-IR, TPR,TEM and BET.The results showed that the highly-ordered mesoporous molecular sieves were synthesized, and the template agent was efficiently removed after calcination at 550℃.After Pt-loading the ordering of mesoporous molecular sieves was decreased, however, the mesoporous structure was preserved.The results of benzene hydrogenation indicated that the mesoporous molecular sieve without Ni did not have any catalytic activity, but the Pt-loading mesoporous molecular sieves had catalytic activity.In addition, the Ni-containing mesoporous molecular sieve itself was catalytically active for benzene hydrogenation.After loading Pt on the Ni-containing mesoporous molecular sieve, the catalytic activity for benzene hydrogenation was enhanced.The selectivity of cyclohexane for all samples was nearly 100%.It can be concluded that the Ni-containing mesoporous molecular sieves can be used as a catalyst or a good support for benzene hydrogenation.