Ni-containing catalyst for the oligomerization of olefins

An oligomerization catalyst comprising:

• an Al-containing binder comprising less than 0.1% by weight of Si in the total composition of the Al-containing binder,
• an amorphous silica-alumina support material,
• nickel oxide (NiO), and
• an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal oxide;
• wherein the oligomerization catalyst has a composition of:
• from 15% to 40% by weight of NiO,
• from 10% to 30% by weight of Al2O3,
• from 55% to 70% by weight of SiO2, and
• from 0.01% to 2.5% by weight of the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal oxide,
• wherein the oligomerization catalyst has a molar ratio of nickel ions:alkali metal/alkaline earth metal ions in the range of from 1:0.1 to 1:0.001 and is substantially free from titanium dioxide and zirconium dioxide,
• wherein the oligomerization catalyst has a specific BET surface area of from 150 to 400 m2/g, determined by nitrogen physisorption,
• wherein the oligomerization catalyst comprises mesopores and macropores, the mesopores having an average pore diameter of 5 to 15 nm, the macropores of the oligomerization catalyst having an average pore diameter of 1 to 100 μm, and
• wherein the average pore volume of the mesopores and the macropores is from 0.5 to 1.45 cm3/g.