Abstract: Supported Ni-B amorphous alloy catalysts were prepared by a reductant-impregnation method using commercial SiO₂, γ-Al₂O₃, and active carbon (AC) as supports. The effects of the supports on the texture, thermal stability, and catalytic properties of the supported Ni-B catalysts in selective hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone (eAQ) to H₂O₂ were studied. It was found that the crystallization temperature of the supported Ni-B catalysts is much higher than ultrafine Ni-B and the stability sequence is Ni-B/AC > Ni-B/SiO₂ > Ni-B/γ-Al₂O₃. The catalytic activity of the supported Ni-B catalysts is in the order Ni-B/SiO₂ > Ni-B/γ-Al₂O₃ > Ni-B/AC, and the C=O selectivity is Ni-B/AC > Ni-B/SiO₂ > Ni-B/γ-Al₂O₃. The different activity of the supported Ni-B catalysts can be attributed to the deviation in the active surface area of the catalysts and the different pore structure of the supports. The different selectivity can be attributed to the different uniformity of the active sites on the catalysts and the different surface properties of the supports.

Key words: nickel, boron, amorphous alloy, silica, alumina, active carbon, supported catalyst, 2-ethylanthraquinone, hydrogenation, hydrogen peroxide