Hydrodeoxygenation of phenol over Pd catalysts by in-situ generated hydrogen from aqueous reforming of formic acid

• Pd/SiO2 has the highest activity among tested catalysts.
• The textural properties of SiO2 are key to the excellent performance of Pd/SiO2.
• High level of Brønsted acid sites in SiO2 favors cyclohexane selectivity.

Hydrodeoxygenation of phenol, as model compound of bio-oil, was investigated over Pd catalysts, using formic acid as a hydrogen donor. The order of activity for deoxygenation of phenol with Pd catalysts was found to be: Pd/SiO2 > Pd/MCM-41 > Pd/CA > Pd/Al2O3 > Pd/HY ≈ Pd/ZrO2 ≈ Pd/CW > Pd/HSAPO-34 > Pd/HZSM-5. The good performance of Pd/SiO2 is owing to its proper pore structure and large specific surface area. The high level of Brønsted acid sites in SiO2 also favors the deoxygenation of phenol.

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