Production of hydrogen through the coupling of dehydrogenation and hydrogenation for the synthesis of cyclohexanone and furfuryl alcohol over different promoters supported on Cu–MgO catalysts

Cu–MgO is found to be an efficient catalyst for the coupling reaction of furfural (FAL) hydrogenation and cyclohexanol (CyOH) dehydrogenation. This process is not only efficient in compensating the thermodynamic equilibrium constraints in the cyclohexanol dehydrogenation and improving the yields towards cyclohexanone but also is a economical route for the synthesis of furfuryl alcohol (FFA) and cyclohexanone (Cyone) as the process do not need any external pumping of hydrogen. The effect of incorporation of various promoters viz., Co, Zn, Fe, Cr, Pd and Ni in Cu–MgO over its activity towards this coupling reaction has been studied. Incorporation of Cr in Cu–MgO catalyst is found be an advantageous in enhancing the yields of both FFA and Cyone. All other promoters though found to show higher activity for the individual reactions of FAL hydrogenation and CyOH dehydrogenation, failed to do the same in their coupling reaction. The stabilization of active species (Cu+/Cu0) by Cr which also seem to increase the synergetic interaction between Cu and MgO as observed from higher dispersion of copper (from XRD results) and easier reducibility of copper oxide (from TPR results) seem to be the factors behind its higher activity over other promoted catalysts.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► Incorporation of various promoters viz., Co, Zn, Fe, Cr, Pd and Ni in Cu–MgO over its activity towards this coupling reaction.
► In-situ production of hydrogen from the dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol is utilized and thus seems to be an economical route in the synthesis of furfuryl alcohol from furfural.
► Incorporation of Cr in Cu–MgO is found be advantageous in enhancing the activity is also seems to increase the synergism between Cu–MgO and easier reducibility of copper oxide over the Cr promoted catalyst.