NiMoAl catalysts derived from heptamolybdate-intercalated layered double hydroxides for hydrodeoxygenation of anisole

The catalytic performance of NiMoAl catalysts derived from layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors with molybdenum species incorporated into the interlayers was investigated for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of anisole as a model compound of the lignin. The results showed that high dispersion of small Ni nanoparticles with 2–5?nm due to the pinning effect of Mo from Mo₇O₂₄^6? intercalated the LDHs. Due to presence of the oxygen vacancy sites on the molybdenum oxide, the NiMoAl catalysts exhibit higher conversion of anisole than the corresponding NiAl catalyst. The activity for hydrodeoxygenation was enhanced with the increased content of molybdenum species, which can be attributed to the larger amount of acid sites-promoted removal of oxygen from anisole. In addition, the NiMoAl catalysts show higher resistance to deactivation than the NiAl catalyst, and can be broadly applied to other hydrodeoxygenation reactions.