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Efficient Synthesis of Furfuryl Alcohol from H2‑Hydrogenation/Transfer Hydrogenation of Furfural Using Sulfonate Group Modified Cu Catalyst
journal contribution
posted on 2017-01-21, 00:00 authored by Wanbing Gong, Chun Chen, Yong Zhang, Hongjian Zhou, Huimin Wang, Haimin Zhang, Yunxia Zhang, Guozhong Wang, Huijun ZhaoA copper-based catalyst, which was
supported by sulfonate group (−SO3H) grafted active
carbon (AC), was prepared and activated simultaneously by liquid phase
chemical reduction method. The modified copper catalyst, Cu/AC–SO3H, displayed an enhanced catalytic performance for selective
hydrogenation of furfural (FAL) to furfuryl alcohol (FOL) in liquid
phase, in which almost 100% FOL yield was obtained at 378 K and 0.4
MPa of hydrogen pressure after 120 min reaction. The effect of −SO3H was evaluated and illustrated by the combination of reaction
performance and physicochemical characterizations, such as X-ray diffraction
(XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray
photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) measurements. Through grafting sulfonate
group on the support, better dispersion of nanoparticles, higher reduction
degree of Cu, and stronger adsorption of FAL can be attained to contribute
high hydrogenation performance. In addition, the effects of reaction
conditions (such as reaction temperature, H2 pressure,
reaction time, solvent, and catalyst to FAL mass ratio) were evaluated
intensively. Also, the Cu/AC–SO3H catalyst showed
an excellent catalytic performance for transfer hydrogenation of FAL,
in which 2-propanol was utilized as the solvent and hydrogen donor
concurrently. Cycling test proved the prepared catalyst could be recycled
and reused for several times without noticeably reduced catalytic
activity of hydrogenation.