Effect of Ti loading on structure-activity properties of Cu-Ni/Ti-MCM-41 catalysts in hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol

Various Cu-Ni/Ti-MCM-41 catalysts by varying Ti amount (Ti/Si = 10, 20 and 30%) were synthesized for hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol and characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, NH3-TPD, H2-TPR and Raman spectroscopy. The Ti loading shows an adverse effect on the catalyst surface area. But, more number of acidic sites (5173.55 μmol/g) were found for 20% Ti loaded Cu-Ni/Ti-MCM-41 catalyst. The 20% Ti loaded Cu-Ni/Ti-MCM-41 catalyst shows a high guaiacol conversion (74.2%) and cyclohexane selectivity (48.81%) which is due to abundant acid and redox sites: acid sites initiate removal of oxygen via dehydration, while hydrogenation of guaiacol to cyclohexane is promoted by redox sites.