Research points to more effective catalyst materials for petrochemical industryMay 12, 2006Nickel oxide is a very important chemical in modern industrial processes. It is commonly used as a catalyst within the petrochemical industry in areas like the synthesis of olefin gas and the reforming reaction of methane. The performance of the catalyst is closely related to particle properties of synthesised nickel oxide. Particle sizes, shapes and porosities are largely determined by various synthesis techniques but it is suggested that precursor material may also strongly influence these properties. Catalytic materials are most effective when synthesised as spherical particles and among the numerous methods suggested for synthesizing spherical particles, the sol-gel method is currently the most promising. The Sol-Gel method was used by Thai researchers Chatchawan Sookman and Paisan Kongkachuiychay from Kasetsart University different nickel precursors and bases yielded NiO particles with differing particle sizes.
In all, six different systems were studied. NiO particles from Ni(NO3)2 were the largest followed by NiO from NiCl2 and NiSO4 respectively. In addition, use of NaOH yielded slightly larger NiO particles compared to when KOH was used as a precursor. Furthermore, the NiO crystal size was found to increase with an increase in the calcination temperature and concentration of nickel salts. The researchers found Ni(NO3)2 and NaOH were the most appropriate reactants for synthesis of nickel oxide due to the properties of the precursors. AZoNetwork | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Related Petrochemical News Articles Argonne scientists discover networks of metal nanoparticles are culprits in alloy corrosion Oxide scales are supposed to protect alloys from extensive corrosion, but scientists at U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have discovered metal nanoparticle chinks in this armor. Even low levels of air pollution may pose stroke risk Short-term exposure to low levels of particulate air pollution may increase the risk of stroke or mini-stroke, according to findings that suggest current exposure standards could be insufficient to protect the public. Scientists to discover why flamingos are in the pink of health -- in the poo! A University of Leicester ecologist is setting out to discover why flamingos are so in the pink of health - in the poo! Lensless camera uses X-rays to view nanoscale materials and biological specimens X-rays have been used for decades to take pictures of broken bones, but scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and their collaborators have developed a lensless X-ray technique that can take images of ultra-small structures buried in nanoparticles and nanomaterials, and features within whole biological cells such as cellular nuclei. Titan's icy climate mimics Earth's tropics If space travelers ever visit Saturn's largest moon, they will find a tropical world where temperatures plunge to minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit, methane rains from the sky and dunes of ice or tar cover the planet's most arid regions. These conditions reflect a cold mirror image of Earth's tropical climate. Researchers Genetically Engineer Microorganisms into Tiny Factories Microorganisms may soon be efficiently and inexpensively producing novel pharmaceutical compounds, such as flavonoids, that fight aging, cancer or obesity, as well as high-value chemicals. UCR chemists identify organic molecules that mimic metals A limitation in using hydrogen as a fuel in hydrogen-powered vehicles is the difficulty involved in storing it in a cost-effective and convenient manner. Rice takes zeolite design into 21st Century using teragrid A room's design helps define how people interact inside it, and it's much the same in the molecular world. The atomic layout of molecular spaces can provoke very different reactions from chemicals that meet there, in much the way that an intimate bistro and a bustling cafeteria might evoke different interactions among dinners. Study of toxins in Houston air warrants new standards A new report recommends immediate action to reduce levels of four toxic air pollutants because exposure to them poses a high risk to community health. Just breathe: Ozone forecaster unveiled at University of Houston, available via Web People with asthma or other respiratory problems can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to University of Houston professors who have recently unveiled a forecasting system that provides air quality data on ozone conditions. More Petrochemical News Articles |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||