11. However, this is the preferred alloy composition for production of Raney nickel catalysts currently in use. 12. Commercially available Raney nickel has an average Ni surface area of 100 m 2 per gram of catalyst. 13. Raney nickel is produced when a block of nickel-aluminium alloy is treated with concentrated sodium hydroxide.14. For this reason, commercial Raney nickel is available in both " active " and " inactive " forms. 15. An alternative process operates in diluted ADN conditions using HMD itself as a solvent and Raney Nickel as catalyst. 16. This catalyst, now commonly known as Raney nickel , was the subject of a patent he obtained in 1927. 17. Raney nickel is notable for being thermally and structurally stable, as well has having a large Teller ) surface area.18. Even after reaction, Raney nickel contains significant amounts of hydrogen gas, and may spontaneously ignite when exposed to air. 19. In the presence of Raney nickel , it undergoes dehydrogenation to 2-methylimidazole, which can then be further elaborated. 20. "' Raney nickel "'is a solid catalyst composed of fine grains of a nickel-aluminium alloy.
