A study of the hydrodenitrogenation of propylamine over supported nickel phosphide catalysts using amorphous and nanostructured silica supports

- Propylamine (PA) hydroconversion was applied as model reaction of bone oil HDN.
- The Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst was active in the C-N but inactive in C-C hydrogenolysis.
- Operando DRIFTS study confirmed that DPA is intermediate of the PA HDN reaction.
- The protonated N-bases over the Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst are spectator species in the reaction.
- Defective Ni2P crystals of fresh catalysts take up ordered structure during reaction.