Summary: Silica‐supported single‐site catalysts show limitations with respect to catalyst homogeneity and maximum metal content. A novel emulsion‐based catalyst heterogenization concept is described, which allows these limitations to be overcome. The method produces catalyst particles with an inherently perfect spherical shape and unique intra‐ and inter‐particle homogeneity. The catalyst particles are very compact and have a low surface area. Video microscopic studies confirm that the improved catalyst homogeneity leads to a more uniform polymerization behavior on a single particle level. The catalysts contain significantly more complex, compared to silica‐supported catalyst systems, which leads to correspondingly higher catalyst activities. No differences, in terms of the mass‐transfer kinetics of these low‐porosity catalysts, compared to porous catalyst systems have been observed.

The chemisorption of toluene and of methylcyclohexane on nickel catalysts at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range 365 -485 K has been investigated by gravimetric method as well as infi-ared spectroscopy. The latter indicates that toluene attached to the surface with x-bonding is the most realistic surface compound. The coverage of organic compounds at partial pressures close to 1 kPa was found to be equal to 0.16-0.25. The amount of adsorbed compound increased witb increasing temperature. These observations led to the application of the isotherm which takes into account lateral interactions, as well as the polyatomic nature of adsorption. A good description of experimental data was obtained.