Bifunctionality of Supported Metal Hydrodeoxygenation Catalysts

The transition to sustainable energy relies on innovative methods to convert biomass-derived compounds into viable biofuels. In this study, the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of 6-undecanone is used as a model reaction to screen bifunctional catalysts, where metal sites facilitate hydrogenation and the support promotes deoxygenation, enabling high conversion and selectivity toward desirable alkanes for biofuel production. This reaction is particularly relevant as it represents a critical step in upgrading volatile fatty acids, derived from biomass, into long-chain hydrocarbons suitable for fuel applications. By examining a range of metals (nickel, cobalt, and tin) on different supports, it is revealed that the choice of metal-support combination is critical to catalyst performance. Zeolite beta's 3D microporous structure and adjustable acidity provide an ideal environment for fine-tuning metal-support interactions (MSIs), which are essential for balancing deoxygenation with alkane isomerization, a desirable trait for biofuels.