Efficient Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin‐Derived Phenolic Compounds over Bifunctional Catalyst Comprising H₄PMo₁₁VO₄₀ Coupled with Ni/C

Abstract

In the catalytic transformation of bio‐oil into liquid fuels having alkanes via hydrodeoxygenation (HDO), the acid and metal sites in the catalyst are pivotal for promoting the HDO of lignin‐derived phenolic compounds. This study introduces a novel bifunctional catalyst comprising phosphomolybdenum‐vanadium heteropolyacids (H4PMo11VO40) coupled with Ni/C. The HDO reaction of the model compound guaiacol was carried out under reaction conditions of 230 °C, revealing the superior performance of H4PMo11VO40 with Ni/C catalysts compared to the conventional acids, even at low dosage. The Keggin structure of H4PMo11VO40 provided a solid catalyst with strong acidic and redox properties, alongside advantages such as ease of synthesis, cost‐effectiveness, and tunable acid and redox properties at the molecular level. Characterization of Ni/C and the prepared acid demonstrated favorable pore structure with a mesopore volume of 0.281 cm3/g and an average pore size of 3.404 nm, facilitating uniform distribution and catalytic activity of Ni‐metal. Incorporating acid enhances the acidic sites, fostering synergistic interactions between metal and acidic sites within the catalyst, thereby significantly enhancing HDO performance. Guaiacol conversion at 230 °C reached 100%, with a cyclohexane selectivity of 89.3%. This study presents a promising pathway for converting lignin‐derived phenolic compounds.