# Precursor-Driven Catalytic Performances of Al2O3-Supported Earth-Abundant Ni Catalysts in the Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid and Hydroxymethylfurfural into Added-Value Chemicals

## TL;DR

This paper explores how different nickel precursors affect the performance of Al2O3-supported catalysts in converting levulinic acid and HMF into valuable chemicals.

## Contribution

The study reveals how precursor type and calcination effects influence catalyst properties and hydrogenation performance.

## Key findings

- Inorganic nickel precursors during calcination lead to higher metal dispersion and stronger alumina interaction.
- Smaller metal crystallites improve levulinic acid hydrogenation yields.
- Metal particle size and alumina interaction affect HMF hydrogenation pathways.

## Abstract

It has been shown that the nature of the metal precursor and the thermal effects during calcination determine the physicochemical properties of the catalysts and their catalytic activity in the levulinic acid (LA) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) hydrogenation reactions. The endothermic effect during calcination of the inorganic nickel precursor promoted higher metal dispersion and stronger interaction with the alumina surface. In contrast, the exothermic effects during the calcination of organic nickel precursors resulted in smaller metal dispersion and lower interaction with the support surface. A clear relationship was found between the size of the metal crystallites and the yield of LA hydrogenation reaction. The smaller crystallites were more active in the LA hydrogenation reaction. In turn, the size of the metal particles and their nature of interaction with the surface of the alumina influence the hydrogenation pathways of the HMF.