Mono-, and bimetallic Ni-, Ru-, and Pt-modified nanosized Beta zeolite catalysts were prepared by the post synthesis method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption, HRTEM microscopy, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR-TGA), ATR FT-IR spectroscopy, and by solid-state MAS-NMR spectroscopy. The presence of nanosized nickel-oxide, ruthenium-oxide, and platinum species was detected on the catalysts. The presence of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites, and incorporation of nickel ions into zeolite lattice was proven by FT-IR of adsorbed pyridine. The structural changes in the catalyst matrix were investigated by solid state NMR spectroscopy. The catalysts were used in a gas-phase hydrodemethoxylation and dealkylation of 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol as a lignin derivative molecule for phenol synthesis.
Keywords: Ni/Ru/Pt catalysts; nanosized Beta zeolite; phenol synthesis; solid state NMR spectroscopy.