A support effect on the hydrodeoxygenation reaction of anisole by ruthenium catalysts

Abstract Ordered mesoporous silica materials SBA-15, SBA-16 and MCM-41were synthesized and used as supports for the active phase which was made of ruthenium nanoparticles. The physicochemical properties of the systems were characterized by XRD, N2 sorption and TEM. The systems were used as catalysts of hydrodeoxygenation of anisole, carried out in temperatures from the range 90–130 °C under hydrogen pressure of 6 MPa. The impact of two variables (i) temperature and (ii) type of support on the course of the reaction was checked. The main product of the reaction catalysed by MCM-41/Ru was toluene, while if the support was either SBA-15/Ru or SBA-16/Ru, the main product was methoxycyclohexane. In the reaction conditions applied, 100% of anisole conversion was achieved.