Ni-Co-Cu supported on pseudoboehmite-derived Al ₂O ₃: Highly efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of organic functional groups

Ni-Co-Cu catalysts supported on pseudoboehmite-derived Al ₂O ₃ were developed for efficient hydrogenation of organic functional groups: CN and NO ₂ associated with benzene as well as CC in butynediol. Factors such as thermo-treatment of pseudoboehmite, Ni loading, Cu and Co content, and catalyst operating parameters were systematically studied. Among the catalysts, 20%Ni-3%Cu-5%Co/Al ₂O ₃ performed the best, showing 100% feed conversion and 84-99.8% selectivity of target products. Techniques such as N ₂ sorption measurement, scanning electron microscope, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction and desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the catalysts. The superior performance of the catalyst can be attributed to synergetic interaction among the Ni-Cu-Co constitutes as well as enhancement of Ni ²⁺ reduction and Ni ⁰ dispersion that are resulted due to the co-presence of Cu and Co.