Hydrogenation of succinic acid to tetrahydrofuran (THF) over rhenium catalyst supported on H2SO4-treated mesoporous carbon

Mesoporous carbon (MC) prepared by a surfactant-templating method was treated with different H2SO4 concentration (X = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 M) for use as a support (MC-X) for rhenium catalyst. Rhenium catalysts supported on H2SO4-treated mesoporous carbons (Re/MC-X) were then prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation method, and they were applied to the liquid-phase hydrogenation of succinic acid to tetrahydrofuran (THF). The effect of H2SO4 treatment on the physicochemical properties and catalytic activity of Re/MC-X catalysts (X = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) was investigated. It was observed that MC-X supports showed different pore characteristics depending on H2SO4 concentration. As a result, Re/MC-X catalysts showed different rhenium particle size. In the liquid-phase hydrogenation of succinic acid to tetrahydrofuran (THF), conversion of succinic acid and yield for THF showed volcano-shaped curves with respect to H2SO4 concentration. Thus, an optimal H2SO4 concentration was required to achieve maximum catalytic performance of Re/MC-X. Yield for THF in the hydrogenation of succinic acid increased with decreasing rhenium particle size of Re/MC-X catalysts. Among the catalysts tested, Re/MC-0.4 with the smallest rhenium particle size showed the highest yield for THF.

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► Re catalysts supported on H2SO4-treated mesoporous carbons (Re/MC-X) were prepared.
► Re/MC-X catalysts were applied to the hydrogenation of succinic acid to THF.
► Yield for THF increased with decreasing Re particle size of Re/MC-X catalysts.
► Re/MC-X served as a reusable catalyst for hydrogenation of succinic acid to THF.