Increasing Ni Dispersion on a Carbon-Supported Catalyst for Hydrogenation Saturation of Naphthalene: Effect of Different Alkanol Solvents

Hydrogenation saturation of naphthalene (NL) is a critical step for upgrading the quality of transportation fuels. The Ni nanoparticles supported by YP80 were prepared with a wet impregnation method using alkanol solvents, which help modify the Ni0 particle sizes and Ni dispersion of the Ni/YP80-X catalysts. The relatively high specific surface area and the hydrophobicity of YP80 promote the infiltration of impregnation solvents into the pores of the support. Under the conditions of 180 °C, 1 h, and 2.0 MPa H2, a complete conversion of NL and a high decalin yield of 100% were achieved by the Ni/YP80-EG catalyst. The Ni/YP80-EG catalyst exhibits high efficiency, high selectivity, and excellent stability due to the well-dispersed Ni and small Ni nanoparticles of the catalyst. This work contributes to understanding how to tune the particle sizes of catalysts and optimize the reaction conditions for improving the NL hydrogenation.