Influence of excess sodium ions on the specific surface area formation in a NiO-Al2O3 catalyst prepared by different methods

The influence of sodium ions on the specific surface area of a NiO-Al2O3 catalyst in dependence of nickel loading (5, 10, and 20 wt% Ni), temperature of heat treatment (400, 700 and 1100oC) and the method of sample preparation was investigated. Low temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied for sample characterization. Dramatic differences in the specific surface area were registered between non-rinsed and rinsed Al2O3 and NiO-Al2O3 samples. The lagged sodium ions promote sintering of non-rinsed catalyst samples.