New bulk nickel phosphide catalysts for glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,2-propanediol

• Bulk Ni3P catalysts are synthesized by a hydrothermal method for the first time.
• The synthesized Ni3P catalysts present morphology of hexagonal prisms.
• The synthesized Ni3P catalysts are tested for glycerol hydrogenolysis to propanediol.
• The synthesized Ni3P catalysts exhibit a low-temperature activity for hydrogenolysis.

Transitional metal phosphides were found to have outstanding activity and stability in catalytic hydrotreatments. The bulk trinickel phosphide catalyst with the smallest phosphorus content among the nickel phosphides were synthesized by a hydrothermal method followed by an annealing treatment, and the resulting bulk trinickel phosphide catalysts presented a high purity and morphology of hexagonal prisms. The optimized synthesis conditions include a P:Ni ratio of 3 to 1 and a pH value of 5 in the hydrothermal synthesis stage and a calcination temperature of 773 K in the annealing treatment. The synthesized trinickel phosphides exhibited a low-temperature activity to selective glycerol hydrogenolysis and the high selectivity to 1,2-propanediol.