Improved performance of SiO2-supported Ni3Ga intermetallic compound for deoxygenation of phenolic compounds

Ni/SiO2 and SiO2-supported Ni3Ga and Ni5Ga3 intermetallic compounds were prepared by the sol-gel method and evaluated for the hydrodeoxygenation of various phenolic compounds at 0.1 MPa. In the hydrodeoxygenation of anisole, Ni3Ga/SiO2 was more active for direct deoxygenation to benzene than the corresponding catalyst prepared by the impregnation method as well as Ni/SiO2. The anisole conversion and selectivity to benzene reached 95.1% and 92.5% on Ni3Ga/SiO2 at 300 °C and WHSV of 2 h−1, respectively. In the HDOs of cresols and guaiacol, Ni3Ga/SiO2 still more dominatingly facilitated the direct deoxygenation, while Ni/SiO2 significantly promoted the C-CH3 bond cleavage.