Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Supported on Sio2 Nanosphere for Efficient Synergetic Decarboxylation of Fatty Acids Under Mild Conditions

Abstract

We prepared a series of nickel-based bimetallic catalysts supported on homemade SiO2 nanospheres and investigated the synergetic effect on decarboxylation of fatty acids. NiCo/SiO2 turned out with the best performance, compared to NiCu-, NiZn-, NiMo-, NiFe-/SiO2. NiCo/SiO2 showed an alloy structure and obtained 83% conversion of stearic acid and 84% selectivity of heptadecane under relatively mild conditions (280 °C, 1 MPa H2). Compared to commercial SiO2, our homemade SiO2 showed a stronger carbon accumulation resistance, indicating a medium specific surface area was essential. Both the synergetic effect of NiCo alloy and the carbon accumulation resistance of homemade SiO2 nanospheres contributed to the efficient hydrothermal decarboxylation.

Keywords: Fatty Acids, Hydrothermal, Decarboxylation, SiO2, Nickel-cobalt alloy