Reductive amination of polypropylene glycol using Ni-CeO2@Al2O3 with high activity, selectivity and stability

Abstract

Ni-only and Ni-CeO2 particles decorated on Al2O3 support material were prepared for an effective catalytic reductive amination of polypropylene glycol (PPG) to polyetheramines (PEA). Incipient wetness impregnation was employed for the preparation of catalysts followed by complementary material characterization (powder XRD, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, H2-TPR and NH3-TPD). High selectivity to PEA (~ 100%) was achieved. The catalytic activity obtained was proportional to Ni and Ce loadings (CCe), when CCe ≤ 15%. Hybridization with CeO2 inhibited formation of nickel nitride and enhanced activity (by 15.3%) and operation stability of Ni catalyst (by 20×). The present work has demonstrated a facile route to fabricate Ni-CeO2 hybrid catalysts on alumina support material and provided mechanistic understanding of the synergistic effect occurred for the heterogeneous catalytic reductive amination.