PREPARATION OF MONODISPERSE NICKEL (COBALT) BOR1DE CATALYST USING REVERSED MICELLAR SYSTEM

ABSTRACT

Reactions of Ni(II) or Co(II) cations with NaBH₄ are prepared for monodisperse Ni₂B or Co₂B. These materials are at first dissolved in the inner water cores of reverse micelles composed of CTAB, 1-hexanol (1-pcntanol or 1—butyl alcohol) and water, then react with NaBH4 at room temperature. The reverse micelles provide a very convenient way of producing nickel boridc (or cobalt boride) particles of predetermined size if a well defined micellar composition and the concentration of the reducing agent arc precisely controlled. The experimental results demonstrate that the type of catalysts produced arc nearly monodisperse particles and have an activity superior to that of Raney nickel )or Rancy cobalt) in hydrogenation of certain olefins.