Nickel Nanoparticles Immobilized on Pristine Halloysite: An Outstanding Catalyst for Hydrogenation Processes

Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) immobilized on halloysite-based supports were straightforwardly synthesized and fully characterized by different techniques with the purpose of evaluating catalytic performance these as-prepared composite materials as catalysts in hydrogenation reactions. Thus, halloysite bearing amino (HAL-NH2) ammonium (HAL-NEt3) groups led to less active comparison unfunctionalized supports, probably due relative strong metal-support interactions tetraalkylammonium functions, consequently hindering interaction unsaturated substrates at surface material. Despite NiNPs supported pristine provided merely agglomerates, stabilized quinidine (NiC) proved be a highly effective versatile catalyst operating low temperature (25–100 °C) metal loading (1–20 mol %Ni), very well-adapted reduce large range functions (alkenes, alkynes, ketones, aldehydes, nitro…). Moreover, NiC was able selectively from biomass yield high value-added products, such squalane, saturated fatty acids, furfuryl alcohol γ-valerolactone.