Abstract
A review summarizes about the Ni nano catalysts have emerged as a superactive catalysts for reduction reactions particularly acetone reduction to isopropanol and its valued-added products in chemical industry and Ni catalysts is well informed for hydrogenation reactions for decades but reduction which forms an important area of catalytic process to produce fine chemicals in industries. Reduction of acetone has important applications in heat pumps, fuel cells or fulfilling the substantial demand for the production of 2-propanol. Hydrogenation of acetone is carried out with variety of catalysts notably homogeneous catalysts such as Iridium, Ru complexes etc and heterogeneous catalysts such as Raney Nickel, Raney Sponge, Ni/Al2O3, Ni/SiO2, Ni or Ni, (or supported on SiO2 or MgO) and r-NiMg Al layered double hydroxide. The major products are typically 2-propanol, methyl isobutyl ketone. Nano catalysts are being developed for actone reduction like Ni maleate, cobalt oxide prepared in organic solvents. These catalysts process can be applied for other commercial catalytic process replacing the old one to prepare hollow nanospheres of other materials for catalytic applications. The author summarizes a mini review on acetone hydrogenation under different conditions with various Ni nano heterogeneous catalysts studied so far in literature and new strategies to develop economic and environmentally friendly approach. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.