Ni nanoparticles supported on microwave-synthesised hectorite for the hydrogenation of styrene oxide

Three hectorites were synthesised at different preparation conditions by aging with microwaves. One more hectorite was aged by conventional heating for comparison. Synthesized hectorites were used as supports of nickel nanoparticles for the catalytic hydrogenation of styrene oxide to obtain 2-phenylethanol. Ni/hectorite obtained by impregnation of a microwaved-synthesised hectorite with the highest nickel content (10 wt%) resulted in high active, high selective to 2-phenylethanol and high resistant to deactivation catalyst. Catalytic results were related to the different NiO–hectorite interactions observed by TPR together with the accessibility to the acid sites present in the supports. Both factors mainly depended on the hectorite purity and the use of microwaves for hectorite synthesis.

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► Total conversion and total selectivity to 2-phenylethanol with Ni/microwaved-hectorite.
► The use of microwaves for hectorite synthesis and its purity determined activity.
► Catalytic results were related to different NiO–hectorite interactions.
► Catalytic results were related to different amounts and accessibility of acid sites.