The aim of the present study is to prepare silica-supported Ni-X bimetallic catalysts, tocharacterize them, and to compare their catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of styrene, as well as their selectivity in the hydrogenation of the styrene’s olefinic double bond instead of the hydrogenation of the aromatic ring. The element X is grafted in a controlled way on the supported nickel particles, and is chosen according to its electronegativity, which is eitherlower (Zr), or equivalent (Sn), or higher (Au) than the electronegativity of Ni, in order to study the geometrical and/or electronic effects due to the doping of Nickel. Among the prepared samples, the Ni-Au/SiO2 catalyst has exhibited high activity and high selectivity in the hydrogenation of styrene into ethylbenzene, which makes the doping of Ni by Au apromising alternative for PyGas selective hydrogenation catalysts.
