In situ preparation of a nickel-oxy-hydroxide decorated ITQ-2 composite: a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst.

A layered zeolite precursor of MWW type (MCM-22) was successfully delaminated (ITQ-2) in situ in the presence of nickel oxy-hydroxide. The broadening of XRD peaks corresponding to the (100), (220), and (310) planes and the disappearance of the (002) plane confirm the delamination. The curled ITQ-2 sheets having uniform lattice fringes, and the slit-shaped layers illustrate the formation of nickel-oxy-hydroxide-decorated ITQ-2 (Ni-ITQ-2 composite). The Ni-ITQ-2 composite is efficient for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of m -cresol, with a 99% yield of methylcyclohexane and exhibits excellent hydrotreating abilities for various oxygenated aromatics and cycloalkanes.