With the aim of testing whether a low molecular weight gelator could be used as metal dispersion agent for supported nickel based catalysts. A series of Ni/mSiO₂-DMBSx (x represents the concentration of hydrogelator during preparation, g mL⁻¹) catalysts were prepared by aqueous wet impregnation of nickel nitrate with the existence of a hydrogelator, [2,4-(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)-D-sorbitol, DMBS] and used in quinoline hydrogenation to produce 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, which is an important synthetic intermediate. The impact of DMBS aggregates on the structure of resulted catalysts was carefully studied by using a series of characterization methods. It was found that the addition of DMBS leading to an increase in Ni dispersion as well as to an enhanced metal-support interaction, which is of benefit for maintaining activity during reactions. Hence, Ni/mSiO₂-DMBSx catalysts exhibited better activity in quinoline hydrogenation compared to Ni/mSiO₂. Ni/mSiO₂-DMBS0.005 showed the best activity and stability due to the better metal dispersion and stronger metal-support interaction among the prepared Ni/mSiO₂-DMBSx catalysts.

为了测试是否可以将低分子量胶凝剂用作负载型镍基催化剂的金属分散剂。一系列Ni / mSiO ₂ -DMBSx（x表示制备过程中水凝胶剂的浓度，g mL ^-1）催化剂是在水凝胶化剂[2,4-（3,4-二甲基亚苄基）-D-山梨醇，DMBS]存在下，用水湿法浸渍硝酸镍制备的，并用于喹啉加氢生产1,2,3， 4-四氢喹啉，它是一种重要的合成中间体。通过使用一系列表征方法，仔细研究了DMBS聚集体对所得催化剂结构的影响。发现添加DMBS导致Ni分散增加以及增强的金属-载体相互作用，这对于在反应期间保持活性是有益的。因此，镍/ MSIO ₂ -DMBSx催化剂在喹啉加氢相比的Ni / MSIO表现出更好的活性₂。Ni / mSiO ₂-DMBS0.005由于制备的Ni / mSiO ₂ -DMBSx催化剂之间更好的金属分散性和更强的金属-载体相互作用而显示出最佳的活性和稳定性。