Comparative Study on the Hydrogenation of Naphthalene over Both Al₂O₃-Supported Pd and NiMo Catalysts against a Novel LDH-Derived Ni-MMO-Supported Mo Catalyst

Naphthalene hydrogenation was studied over a novel Ni–Al-layered double hydroxide-derived Mo-doped mixed metal oxide (Mo-MMO), contrasted against bifunctional NiMo/Al2O3, and Pd-doped Al2O3 catalysts, the latter of which with Pd loadings 1, 2, 5 wt %. Reaction rate constants were derived from pseudo-first-order kinetic pathway describing two-step to tetralin (k1) decalin (k2). The Mo-MMO catalyst achieved comparable reaction rates Pd2%/Al2O3 at concentration. When using Pd5%/Al2O3, favored naphthalene culminating in k2 value 0.224 compared k1 0.069. Ni- Mo-based catalysts produced most significant cis-decalin production, cis/trans ratio 0.62 as well providing enhanced activity NiMo/Al2O3. Consequently, presents an opportunity generate more alkyl naphthenes subsequent hydrodecyclization reactions therefore higher cetane number transport fuels. This is by preferential production trans-decalin observed when all Al2O3-supported result octalin intermediate orientations on surface function electronic properties catalysts.