Preparation and characterization of renewable siliceous materials synthesized with aluminum and modified with nickel

Abstract

Silica solids synthesized by direct incorporation with Al (Si/Al=10) were modified with different Ni loadings by the wet impregnation method. The starting materials were obtained from renewable precursors: glyceryl monostearate as templating agent and rice husk as Si source. The final solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption and desorption isotherms, programmed thermal reduction (PTR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance (UV–Vis DRS) and (SEM-EDS). The designed mesoporous materials presented bifunctional characteristics (metal-acid) which make them potential catalysts to be used in different reactions of interest, such as the hydrogenolysis of glycerol towards high added value products.