Highly selective hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanol over nano silica supported Ni catalysts in aqueous medium

• DOI: 10.1016/j.mcat.2017.07.016
• Publication Date: 2017-08-05T05:30:56Z
• Authors: J. He; X.-H. Lu; Y. Shen; R. Jing; R.-F. Nie; D. Zhou; Q.-H. Xia
• Keywords: Cyclohexanol

Abstract Cyclohexanol is an excellent starting material for fuel production, but direct selective hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanol under mild conditions is a challenge. Herein we report a catalyst made of Ni nanoparticles supported on high-surface silica, which is highly active for selective formation of cyclohexanol under 1.0 Mpa pressure of hydrogen in aqueous medium without additives. Conversion of 100 mol% and selectivity up to 100% are achieved within 4 h and 1.0 MPa H 2 . Some factors such as the type of the source of silica, the loading of Ni, the reaction temperature and time, the H 2 pressure play important roles in controlling the selective hydrogenation. The generality of the 10%Ni/SiO 2 -1 catalyst for this reaction is demonstrated by selective hydrogenation of other hydroxylated aromatic compounds as well.