One-step synthesis of highly active and stable Ni-ZrO2 catalysts for the conversion of methyl laurate to alkanes

A series of Ni-ZrO2 catalysts with different Ni loading were prepared and evaluated for methyl laurate conversion. Characterizations show that the 10Ni-ZrO2 bears the smallest Ni crystal size; the highest atomic content of surface Ni0, surface oxygen vacancy and Ni-O-Zr interfaces; then exhibits the highest activity and stability towards methyl laurate conversion with nearly 100% yield of alkanes and 87.6% selectivity to undecane at 280 °C, 2 MPa H2. The t-ZrO2(1 1 2) lattice plane can motivate the deoxygenation while the t-ZrO2(0 0 2) promotes cracking reactions, resulting in low selectivity to undecane. Moreover, 10Ni-ZrO2 performs wide applicability for transforming crude oils into alkanes.