Investigation of catalyst particle size distributions using magnetisation and neutron techniques

Potton, Jennifer Ann (1983) Investigation of catalyst particle size distributions using magnetisation and neutron techniques. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

The particle size distributions of eight alumina supported nickel catalysts have been determined at room temperature as a function of reduction conditions from magnetisation data. The data was collected using a vibrating sample magnetometer, and the metal crystallites were typically less than 100A in size. The distributions were calculated using a data analysis technique based upon the concept of maximum entropy, and their significance estimated using an adaptation of the Backus-Gilbert formulation. Comprehensive testing of these analysis techniques using simulated data was carried out and the results commended their applicability to such problems. Small angle neutron scattering data was also analysed to produce the particle size distributions of two of the above catalysts but the quality of the data, and consequently the resolution of the resultant distribution was poor. A comparison of the results obtained from magnetisation and neutron scattering measurements indicated some disagreement in the distributions, but in light of the inferior neutron data, no tangible conclusions could be drawn. The particle size distributions of three ferrofluids were also ascertained.

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