Preparation of Zr modified Ni₂P/SBA-15 catalysts and its hydrodeoxygenation performance

Ni₂P/ZrO₂-SBA-15(n) and Ni₂P/ZrO₂-SBA-15(m) catalysts were prepared from n-propoxide zirconium (n) and Zr(SO₄)₂(m) as zirconium sources. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption specific surface area measurements (BET), CO uptake, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and NH₃ temperature programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD). The results show that after Zr modification, a new layered structure of ZrP is formed. The introduction of Zr helps to generate more Ni₂P active phase with smaller crystal size, and increase both the acid strength and acid amount of the catalyst. Compared with zirconium n-propoxide, the catalyst prepared from Zr(SO₄)₂ has larger specific surface area, more acid amount, stronger acidity, more ZrP phases, smaller Ni₂P crystal grains and more Ni active sites. The product yields of benzofuran hydrodeoxygenation (BF HDO) given by Ni₂P/ZrO₂-SBA-15(n) and Ni₂P/ZrO₂-SBA-15(m) were 71.5% and 85.9% respectively, which were increased by 14.0% and 28.4% respectively compared with Ni₂P/SBA-15. The BF HDO activity, selectivity and yield of the BF HDO products decreased in the order of Ni₂P/ZrO₂-SBA-15(m) > Ni₂P/ZrO₂-SBA-15(n) > Ni₂P/SBA-15.