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Tuning the Acid/Metal Balance of Carbon Nanofiber‐Supported Nickel Catalysts for Hydrolytic Hydrogenation of Cellulose
Author(s) -
Van de Vyver Stijn,
Geboers Jan,
Schutyser Wouter,
Dusselier Michiel,
Eloy Pierre,
Dornez Emmie,
Seo Jin Won,
Courtin Christophe M.,
Gaigneaux Eric M.,
Jacobs Pierre A.,
Sels Bert F.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201100782
Subject(s) - catalysis , cellulose , carbon nanofiber , nickel , incipient wetness impregnation , hydrolysis , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , metal , chemical engineering , materials science , selectivity , organic chemistry , engineering
Abstract Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are a class of graphitic support materials with considerable potential for catalytic conversion of biomass. Earlier, we demonstrated the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose over reshaped nickel particles attached at the tip of CNFs. The aim of this follow‐up study was to find a relationship between the acid/metal balance of the Ni/CNFs and their performance in the catalytic conversion of cellulose. After oxidation and incipient wetness impregnation with Ni, the Ni/CNFs were characterized by various analytical methods. To prepare a selective Ni/CNF catalyst, the influences of the nature of oxidation agent, Ni activation, and Ni loading were investigated. Under the applied reaction conditions, the best result, that is, 76 % yield in hexitols with 69 % sorbitol selectivity at 93 % conversion of cellulose, was obtained on a 7.5 wt % Ni/CNF catalyst prepared by chemical vapor deposition of CH 4 on a Ni/γ‐Al 2 O 3 catalyst, followed by oxidation in HNO 3 (twice for 1 h at 383 K), incipient wetness impregnation, and reduction at 773 K under H 2 . This preparation method leads to a properly balanced Ni/CNF catalyst in terms of Ni dispersion and hydrogenation capacity on the one hand, and the number of acidic surface‐oxygen groups responsible for the acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis on the other.