Dual-template synthesis of cage-like Ni-based catalyst for hydrotreatment of bio-oil

A Ni-based cage-like C–SiO2–Al2O3 (Ni/CL-CSA) catalyst was synthesized successfully via a facile dual-templating method and used for the hydrotreatment of phenol. The catalyst was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, TG and N2 adsorption techniques. Results show that Ni/CL-CSA has three-dimensional connected macroporous structure with pore size of about 100 nm and ordered mesoporous windows with average pore size of approximately 3.8 nm. Size of nickel particle is 6.1 nm. BET surface area of the catalyst is 212 m2/g and pore volume is 0.24 cm3/g. Hydrogenation and the stability performance of the catalyst was studied for bio-oil model compound phenol. Results reveal that adding macropores into Ni-based mesoporous C–SiO2–Al2O3 (Ni/MP-CSA) can improve the mass transfer rate and reduce the particles growth, thus improve the catalytic activities in the hydrotreatment of phenol, reducing catalyst sintering at high temperature and improving the stability of the catalyst.