Regulating product distribution in deoxygenation of methyl laurate on silica-supported Ni–Mo phosphides: Effect of Ni/Mo ratio

•Ni/Mo ratio determines acidity, dispersion and phosphide phase.•There is an electron transfer from Ni to Mo.•Catalyst activity and product distribution can be tuned by altering Ni/Mo ratio.•Catalyst with Ni/Mo ratio of 1 shows particular performance.