Effect of preparation temperature on the structures and hydrodeoxygenation performance of Ni2P/C catalysts prepared by decomposition of hypophosphites

Abstract

A novel method for preparing Ni₂P/C-x (x = preparation temperature, °C) catalysts in a flowing N₂ atmosphere by decomposition of hypophosphites was proposed, and the effect of preparation temperature on the hydrodeoxygenation performance of the catalysts was further investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂-adsorption specific surface area measurements, CO uptake, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were applied. The performances of the Ni₂P/C-x catalysts prepared at different preparation temperatures were tested in the benzofuran hydrodeoxygenation (BF HDO) reaction. The diffraction peaks related to Ni₂P can be seen when x ≧ 400 °C. With increasing x, the Ni₂P crystallite size and CO uptake amount of the Ni₂P/C-x catalysts increased, and the amount of phosphorous decreased. The BF conversion and yield of total O-free products over the Ni₂P/C-x catalysts increased with increasing preparation temperature. The Ni₂P/C-550 catalyst showed a BF HDO conversion of 91.6% and a yield of total O-free products of 70.2% under the reaction conditions of 300 °C, 3.0 MPa, a H₂/oil ratio of 500 (V/V), and a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 4.0 h⁻¹.