SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A CATALYTICALLY ACTIVE NICKEL SILICOALUMINOPHOSPHATE CATALYST FOR THE CONVERSION OF METHANOL TO ETHENE

X-ray absorption (near-edge and extended fine structure) along with diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy and other techniques are used to characterize specially prepared crystalline powdered samples of the title catalyst, which is based on the chabazite framework. It is established that the nickel ions that are all in tetrahedral, framework sites (first shell Ni-O distance lying close to 1.98 angstrom), and the loosely bound extraframework protons are thought to be the key components of the catalyst for the highly selective conversion of methanol to ethene.