Synthesis of Ni–Mo–N catalysts for removing oxygen from acetophenone

Abstract Ni–Mo–N precursor was synthesized via a complexation reaction using nickel acetate, ammonium molybdate and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as starting materials and then heat-treated at high temperature in hydrogen atmosphere to obtain the final catalyst. The effects of preparation conditions such as Ni/Mo molar ratio and treatment temperature on the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) activity were studied by taking acetophenone as a carboxide in bio-oil. 100% Conversion with a 99.1% selectivity of ethylbenzene was achieved after reaction at 150 °C for 1 h. The deoxygenation degree was further enhanced by increasing the reaction temperature and hydrogen pressure. The high activity of Ni–Mo–N catalyst was attributed to the formation of Ni2Mo3N phase. During the reusability test, acetophenone conversion on Ni–Mo–N catalyst was almost unchanged, but the deoxygenation degree was slightly lowered with the increase of recycle number, which was mainly caused by the nitrogen loss.