Enhanced hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived polyols to light alkanes over boron oxide modified nickel silicate catalysts

Thermal-catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of biomass-derived polyols is a potential route for producing renewable light alkanes, but developing efficient and economical non-precious metal catalysts is still challenging. In this study, a boron oxide moderated layered nickel silicate catalyst Ni-xB2O3/NiSi-PS was designed, and its performance and mechanism in the HDO reaction of C3–C6 polyols were systematically investigated. The characterization results showed that the introduction of B2O3 inhibited the agglomeration of active Ni0, reducing its particle size from 13.8 nm to 7.3 nm and significantly enhancing the Lewis acidity of the catalyst. Under the optimized reaction conditions (300 °C, 5 MPa H2), high light alkane selectivity ranging from 70.1 % to 94.1 % were achieved for various C3–C6 polyols. Through detailed product analysis, the reaction network of polyol HDO was proposed, and the regulatory mechanism of B2O3 was revealed. The catalyst exhibited good stability and reductive regeneration ability, and the activity decreased only slightly after five cycles. This study provides insights into catalyst design for thermal-catalytic conversion processes, which is significant in promoting the sustainable development of the biomass refining industry. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.