Bimetallic Ni and Mo Nitride as an Efficient Catalyst for Hydrodeoxygenation of Palmitic Acid

In the context of the preparation of liquid fuelsderived from biomass with zero CO2footprint, fatty acids appearas suitable feedstocks. However, reduction of carboxylic acidgroups usually requires harsh reaction conditions and thedevelopment of efficient solid catalysts. Herein, bimetallic Ni-Mo nitrides have been obtained by a procedure not involvingnitridation of the corresponding oxide, but reductive decom-position of the tris(ethylenediamine)nickel molybdate at temper-atures between 550 and 700 degrees C. Successful formation of the Ni3Mo3N nitride is confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Ni3Mo3N samplesare found to be efficient catalysts for the hydrodeoxygenation of palmitic acid to C15/C16alkanes with a combined selectivity over 90and 100% palmitic acid conversion and higher activity than analogous Ni-Mo nitrides obtained by NH3nitridation of NiMoO4.Ni3Mo3N is found recyclable with only a slight decay in the catalytic activity upon consecutive reuses attributable to theneutralization of acid sites. The present results show an opportunity that bimetallic nitrides offer as robust advanced solid catalystsfor reactions of biomass conversion requiring harsh conditions.