Synthesis of Ni–P–B amorphous nanoparticles with uniform size as a potential hydrodeoxygenation catalyst.

An Ni–P–B amorphous nano-catalyst was synthesized using a facile chemical reduction method. The amorphous degree was enhanced and the transferred electron decreased with an increase of P content in Ni–P–B. In the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of p-cresol, the conversion using Ni–P–B was high up to 98.9% with a selectivity of 6.5% for toluene and a deoxygenation degree of 96.8% at 498 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]