Abstract: Nickel catalysts with SiO2 as the support were prepared by impregnation (IM) and sol-gel-supercritical fluid drying (Sol-Gel-SCFD) methods. The catalyst were tested with hydrogenation of maleic anhydride (MA) and characterized by XRD, TPR and IR techniques. The preparation methods and nickel content determine the catalysts final structure, activity and selectivity. The NiO forms and interaction with SiO2 are important factors affecting the activity and selectivity. For catalyst prepared by Sol-Gel-SCFD method, the NiO form is related to the Ni content, and the hydrogenation products of MA are succinic anhydride (SA) and γ-butyrolactone (γ-BL).But for catalyst prepared by IM method, the form of NiO is independent on the Ni content, and the MA hydrogenation product is SA only.

Key words: Sol-gel-supercritical fluid drying, Impregnation, Nibased catalysts, 　Catalytic hydrogenation