Ni/Al2O3 catalysts were derived from spinel NiAl2O4 with different Ni content ((2.5, 5 and 7.5) wt%). The catalysts were obtained by H-2 reduction and were investigated for the low-temperature hydrogenation of maleic anhydride (MA) to produce succinic anhydride (SA). The characterization results showed that Ni-0 active sites were mainly derived during the H2 reduction from spinel NiAl2O4 Among the catalysts studied, employing the optimum preparation and reaction conditions with Ni(5%)/Al2O3 yielded the highest catalytic performance. A near-100% conversion of MA and similar to 90% selectivity to SA were achieved at 120 degrees C and 0.5 MPa of H-2 with a weighted hourly space velocity (MA) of 2 h(-1). (C) 2017, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
