Nickel supported carbon nanofibers as an active and selective catalyst for the gas-phase hydrogenation of 2-tert-butylphenol

Nickel supported fishbone carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have been prepared by vacuum impregnation (VI) and homogeneous deposition–precipitation (HDP) methods with different nickel loadings (ca. 5%, 9% and 12%) with the aim to study the influence of the metal incorporation method and the nickel loading in the catalytic activity of gas-phase hydrogenation of 2-tert-butylphenol (2-TBP). Moreover, the influence of the nature of the support was also studied by preparing nickel catalysts supported on other carbon (active carbon (AC) and graphite (G)) and non-carbonaceous materials (alumina (AL) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)). Different techniques were employed to characterize both the supports and the final Ni catalysts: atomic absorption spectrometry, N2 adsorption–desorption analysis, temperature-programed reduction (TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Catalytic results revealed that the nickel particle size and support properties affected directly to both the catalytic activity of hydrogenation of 2-TBP, and the rate of secondary reactions such as cis to trans isomerization and 2-tert-butylcyclohexanone (2-TBCN) hydrogenation.

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► The 2-TBP conversion is dependent on the nickel particle size.
► The 2-TBCN hydrogenation is dependent on the nickel particle size and support nature.
► The VI method led to large size particles with stronger metal–support interaction.
► Lower Ni loading led to smaller particles with stronger metal–support interaction.
► A crystalline character of used support favored 2-TBCN desorption.