Anisole Hydrodeoxygenation: A Comparative Study of Ni/TiO₂-ZrO₂ and Commercial TiO₂ Supported Ni and NiRu Catalysts

This work aimed to determine the carrier effect on anisole hydrodeoxygenation (HDO, batch reactor at 573 K, and 4 MPa of H₂) on 5 wt% Ni catalysts on TiO₂ and TiO₂-ZrO₂ carriers. Besides, a TiO₂-supported Ru-doped catalyst was also tested. Differences in surface acid sites, Ni reducibility, oxygen vacancies, and interactions among metals and support were detected. For instance, Ru addition promoted Ni reducibility due to improved hydrogen adsorption and subsequent spillover effect. Methoxycyclohexane and cyclohexanol were the main products over Ni/TiO₂. Ru incorporation increased the initial reaction rate (×3) compared with non-doped Ni/TiO₂ favoring benzene selectivity. Ni/TiO₂-ZrO₂ exhibited higher HDO activity and enhanced acidity than the material supported on TiO₂, and high deoxygenated compounds yield a fully hydrogenated compound (cyclohexane) as well. Therefore, it was possible to promote the desired reaction pathway to relevant chemical compounds that are associated with both the support type and the metallic phase composition.