Cyclohexane transformation on nickel-rare earth catalysts

The activity of nickel catalysts applied to cerium and neodymium dioxide with different nickel content(from 5 to 36 wt.%) has been studied in the reaction of cyclohexane dehydrogenation. Apparent activation energies of this reaction have been determined. They are equal to 9.7-12 kcal/mol for nickel catalysts based on cerium dioxide with 5,10, and 20% Ni; for the catalysts 5% Ni/CeO2 and 30% Ni/CeO2 they are 18 and 25.7 kcal/mol, respectively. The most active and selective is the catalyst containing 5% Ni/CeO2. It neither cracks nor isomerizes cyclohexane