Support Effect on the Performance of Ni2P Catalysts in the Hydrodeoxygenation of Methyl Palmitate

The effect of support nature, SiO2 and gamma-Al2O3, on physicochemical and catalytic properties of nickel phosphide catalysts in methyl palmitate hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) has been considered. Firstly, alumina-supported nickel phosphide catalysts prepared by temperature-programmed reduction method starting from different precursors (phosphate-Ni(NO3)(2) and (NH4)(2) HPO4 or phosphite-Ni(OH)(2) and H3PO3) were compared using elemental analysis, N-2 physisorption, H-2-TPR, XRD, TEM, NH3-TPD, Al-27 and P-31 MAS NMR techniques and catalytic experiments. The mixture of nickel phosphide phases was produced from phosphate precursor on alumina while using of phosphite precursor provides Ni2P formation with the higher activity in methyl palmitate HDO. Besides, the comparative study of the performances of Ni2P/SiO2 and Ni2P/Al2O3 catalysts demonstrates the apparent superiority of alumina-supported Ni2P in the methyl palmitate hydrodeoxygenation. Considering the tentative scheme of methyl palmitate transformation, we proposed that cooperation of Ni2P and acid sites on the surface of alumina provides the enhanced activity of alumina-supported Ni2P through the acceleration of acid-catalysed hydrolysis.