One-pot preparation of Ni-Cu nanoparticles supported on γ-Al2O3 as selective and stable catalyst for the Guerbet reaction of 1-octanol

• Published in: Catalysis communications 2017-07, Vol.98, p.94-97
• Main Authors: Hernández, Willinton Y., De Vlieger, Kevin, Clerick, Sander, Van Der Voort, Pascal, Verberckmoes, An
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalyst stability; Guerbet reaction; Metal-supported catalysts; Ni-Cu nanoparticles; “in-situ” preparation methodology
• ISSN: 1566-7367; 1873-3905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2017.05.005

This paper reports on the “in-situ” preparation-deposition and reduction of Ni-Cu nanoparticles (NPs) on γ-Al2O3 as support, using a green and elegant one-pot synthesis approach. Pristine and supported Ni-Cu NPs were evaluated as (de)hydrogenation catalysts for the Guerbet reaction of 1-octanol and compared with a classic impregnated and “ex-situ” reduced NiCu on γ-Al2O3 catalyst. XRD reavealed that the degree of Ni-Cu nano-alloying was insignificant in the one-pot preparation method, resulting in Ni-Cu nanocomposites, while the degree of nano-alloying was resp. low and very high in the pristine nanoparticles (NPs) and the classic impregnated catalyst. The degree of reduction was very similar for both the in-situ and ex-situ reduction treatments of the supported catalysts as demonstrated by H2 chemisorption. The “in-situ” prepared supported Ni-Cu NPs showed an enhanced kinetics when compared to the unsupported pristine Ni-Cu NPs, showing a beneficial effect of the metal-support interaction, however the classic impregnated catalyst showed overall the best kinetics, selectivity and stability for the Guerbet reaction of 1-octanol. •Easy preparation of supported Ni-Cu NPs using a one-pot synthesis methodology•Upon alumina support Ni-Cu NPs were more active and stable for Guerbet reaction.•One-pot synthesis method favored disaggregation and stability of the supported catalyst.