Differential cation exchange capacity (DCEC) of nickel supported on silica-aluminas

Differential cation exchange capacity (DCEC) is the difference between the cation exchange capacity of a metal-supported catalyst and the support alone. DCEC values of two nickel catalysts (0.88 and 10% by weight) on a series of silica-alumina supports have been measured. For alumina-rich samples, DCEC values for both weight loadings of nickel are comparable. The silica-rich samples were different, with the lower weight loaded catalysts exhibiting higher DCEC values than the 10% nickel catalysts. The similarities and differences shown by this metal-support system can be traced to the chemical environment of the catalyst preparation. Adsorption and reaction studies are in accord with the reported DCEC values. This technique appears to be a potentially useful method for disclosing metal-support interactions.