New bulk nickel phosphide catalysts for glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,2-propanediol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.catcom.2014.10.020

Transitional metal phosphides were found to have outstanding activity and stability in catalytic hydrotreatments. The bulk trinickel phosphide catalyst with the smallest phosphorus content among the nickel phosphides were synthesized by a hydrothermal method followed by an annealing treatment, and the resulting bulk trinickel phosphide catalysts presented a high purity and morphology of hexagonal prisms. The optimized synthesis conditions include a P:Ni ratio of 3 to 1 and a pH value of 5 in the hydrothermal synthesis stage and a calcination temperature of 773 K in the annealing treatment. The synthesized trinickel phosphides exhibited a low-temperature activity to selective glycerol hydrogenolysis and the high selectivity to 1,2-propanediol.