Aqueous-phase catalytic hydrogenation of furfural to cyclopentanol over Cu-Mg-Al hydrotalcites derived catalysts: Model reaction for upgrading of bio-oil

A series of Cu-Mg-Al hydrotalcites derived oxides with a (Cu+Mg)/Al mole ratio of 3 and varied Cu/Mg mole ratio (from 0.07 to 0.30) were prepared by co-precipitation and calcination methods, then they were introduced to the hydrogenation of furfural in aqueous-phase. Effects of Cu/Mg mole ratio, reaction temperature, initial hydrogen pressure, reaction time and catalyst amount on the conversion rate of furfural as well as the selectivity toward desired product cyclopentanol were systematically investigated. The conversion of furfural over calcined hydrotalcite catalyst with a Cu/Mg mole ratio of 0.2 was up to 98.5% when the reaction was carried out under 140 °C and the initial hydrogen pressure of 4 MPa for 10 h, while the selectivity toward cyclopentanol was up to 94.8%. The catalysts were characterized by XRD and SEM. XRD diffraction of all the samples showed characteristic pattern of hydrotalcite with varied peak intensity as a result of different Cu content. The catalytic activity was improved gradually with the increase of Cu component in the hydrotalcite.

Graphical AbstractFurfural was transformed to cyclopentanol with a yield of 93%, under the combined impact of Cu-Mg-Al hydrotalcite originated catalysts, water and high pressure hydrogen, in which reaction an obvious furan ring rearrangement was observed.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide