Impact of the incipient wetness impregnation sequence during the preparation of La or Ce promoted NiCu-Al2O3 on low-temperature hydrodeoxygenation

Abstract

The performance of La- or Ce-promoted NiCu-Al2O3 catalysts in the low-temperature (200 °C) hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is assessed. Co-impregnation of the promoter with NiCu does not affect the bulk structure, although the catalytic activity of the Ce-promoted catalyst increases due to strong NiCu-Ce interactions. For sequential impregnation, the impregnation order for Ce improves either the HDO selectivity or the activity. For La, both sequentially impregnated catalysts exhibit an improved HDO selectivity, but a different activity. First impregnating La is especially interesting due to the catalysts enhanced stability after an initial deactivation period of 30 h TOS.