Ni–Fe-based silicate-intercalated hydrotalcite: A potential catalyst for hexanol conversion

Background

The de-oxygenation of biomass-derived platform molecules is a necessary process to produce biofuel. Renewable resources, viz., bio-alcohol, can convert alcohol into ethers, aldehydes, and alkenes, thereby increasing the value of the biomass components. In this regard, mixed metal oxides derived from hydrotalcite materials have multi-functional (acid-base-redox) properties and are promising for such organic transformations.

Methods

Ni–Fe and silicate-intercalated Ni–Fe hydrotalcite (HT)-based catalysts were prepared using a simple co-precipitation method. The materials were thoroughly characterized and investigated for hexanol conversion in vapor phase conditions.

Findings

A layered HT structure was evident from the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) reflections. TEM and XPS analysis confirmed that the introduction of silicate anions and subsequent loading of ruthenium on HT facilitate the uniform dispersion of Ru on the HT surface. Using the silicate intercalated NiFe-HT (NF5SiRu-2C) catalyst with 2% ruthenium, a 63% hexanol conversion was observed and its catalytic activity remained the same after 24 h.