Ni nanoparticles prepared from Ce substituted LaNiO3 for the guaiacol conversion

• Ni-reduced nanoparticles were prepared from La1−xCexNiO3 perovskite-type oxides.
• Catalysts displayed a high conversion of guaiacol.
• Cyclohexanol compound was the main product.
• Selectivity was unaffected by variation in Ce content of the perovskite catalysts.

The effect of the substitution of cerium on the catalytic conversion of guaiacol over Ni-based catalysts prepared from the reduction of La1−xCexNiO3 perovskite-type oxides (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) has been investigated. The thermal behavior under reductive atmosphere indicates a beneficial effect of Ce addition. The characterization of the calcined La1−xCexNiO3 perovskites and reduced Ni-based catalysts by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), adsorption of N2 (−196 °C), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction and temperature programmed reduction (TPR) revealed significant differences in crystalline structure and reducibility. The Ni-reduced materials were effective in catalyzing the conversion of guaiacol to cyclohexanol. The catalysts with Ce content x ≤ 0.3 displayed similar initial intrinsic rate. The highest activity was obtained for the catalysts with Ce content x = 0.5 and 0.7 which was ascribed to the highest thermal stability under reductive atmosphere of CeO2-solid solution partially substituted with La. The Ni-reduced catalysts displayed a high selectivity to cyclohexanol and methoxycyclohexanol compounds and the catalysts with XCe = 0.5 presented a high stability in the guaiacol conversion.

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