A novel preparation method of supported metal catalysts using microemulsion

This paper describes a novel preparation method using microemulsion for supported metal catalysts. In this study, the preparation of silica-supported rhodium catalysts was investigated mainly in the polyethylene (5) glycol-p-nonylphenyl ether/cyclohexane system. The catalysts prepared by this method had a smaller average particle size with an appreciable narrow size distribution and exhibited a much higher activity for the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide than a catalyst prepared by the impregnation method. Control of the metal particle size was also investigated for the silica-supported rhodium catalyst, and the particle size was found to be controlled by adjusting the water-to-surfactant molar ratio, the concentration of RhCl₃ in microemulsion, and the type microemulsion system.