Understanding the impact of aluminum oxide binder on Ni/HZSM-5 for phenol hydrodeoxygenation

► Ni/Al2O3-HZSM-5 had almost three times more accessible Ni atoms than Ni/HZSM-5. ► TPR found that Ni oxide on Al2O3-HZSM-5 was more difficult to reduce due to the formation of NiO-Al2O3 'pseudo spinels'. ► The BAS concentration of Ni/Al2O3-HZSM-5 highly decreased because the small Ni nanoparticles nucleated at obstructed BAS sites. ► The in situ IR showed that Al2O3-HZSM-5 had higher adsorption capacities than HZSM-5 due to the added γ-Al2O3 binder.