Controllable tailoring of Ni-encapsulated in hollow silicalite-1 for production of cyclohexanol by hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol

Selective hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol is an effective method for preparing cyclohexanol. In this study, we prepared a hollow silicalite-1 zeolite-supported Ni catalyst (Ni@HL-S1) through a sequential crystallizationdissolution-recrystallization process. The highly dispersed Ni, encapsulated within the zeolite shell, enhances the adsorption and spillover of active hydrogen. The hierarchical pores of Ni@HL-S1 expose a surface that facilitates guaiacol adsorption, accelerating its hydrogenation and producing 2-methoxycyclohexanol. Additionally, Ni interacts with Si-OH defect sites through dissolution-recrystallization, partially serving as moderate Br & oslash;nsted acid sites. This interaction improves the deoxygenation of 2-methoxycyclohexanol, resulting in the production of cyclohexanol. A yield of cyclohexanol greater than 97 wt% is achieved after a 2-hour reaction at 200 degrees C.