Promoting Ni-MOF with metallic Ni for highly-efficient p-nitrophenol hydrogenation

P-nitrophenol (PNP) is a water pollutant with great harm to human body. It is usually converted into p-nitrophenol (PAP) by hydrogenation reduction. Herein, four different structures of Ni-MOFs were synthesized to prove the feasibility of Ni-MOF applied to catalyze the hydrogenation of PNP. Further, a series of Ni-promoted Ni-MOF supported on MCM-41 composites were synthesized by the impregnation-hydrothermal method. The obtained catalyst has a unique morphology and exhibits excellent catalytic activity. Sufficient Ni effectively activates the unsaturated coordination active sites of Ni-MOF with the generation of oxygen vacancies. The promoting effect of Ni on Ni-MOF for hydrogenation is achieved through oxygen vacancies.