La-modified NiCu catalysts prepared by coprecipitation efficiently catalyze the hydrogenation of rosin to produce hydrogenated rosin

Hydrogenated rosin is emerging as a critical material in emerging high-value sectors such as electronic packaging, high-performance adhesives, pharmaceuticals, and food industries, owing to its excellent stability, oxidation resistance, and weatherability. In this study, we report for the first time the use of NiCu nanoparticles supported on La 2 O 2 CO 3 as a highly efficient catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of rosin acids. Remarkably, the NiCu nanoparticles supported on micron-spheres composed of La 2 O 2 CO 3 nanorods demonstrated exceptional catalytic performance, achieving complete conversion of rosin acids with a selectivity of 82.4% toward tetrahydroabietic acid under mild conditions of 220 °C and 6 MPa H 2 pressure. The high performance of NiCu@La 2 O 2 CO 3 is attributed to the electronic interaction between Ni and Cu, while La 2 O 2 CO 3 , acting as a strong electron donor, further modulates the crystal structure of the NiCu alloy. Density functional theory calculations reveal that NiCu@La 2 O 2 CO 3 significantly alters the adsorption configuration of dihydroabietic acid molecules, shifting from a parallel flat-lying adsorption to a tilted adsorption with a certain angle. This optimized adsorption energy of dihydroabietic acid on the active sites simultaneously exposes its specific C=C double bonds, thereby guiding the hydrogenation reaction along a high-selectivity pathway toward tetrahydroabietic acid.