Catalytic hydrogenation of furfural. Influence of the catalyst composition

Identifier:  TFM:405

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFM405

Authors:  Sunyol Ocón, Carles

Abstract:
Nickel catalysts supported on K-10 and Al-pillared montmorillonites, clays with mesoporosity and acid properties, have been prepared and characterized to be used in the hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) in order to obtain products of interest. Clays have been modified by introducing basicity – magnesium oxide impregnation-. Catalytic activity has been tested and the effect of acidity and basicity have been also evaluated. Samples were characterized by N2 physisorption, UV-Visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, temperature programmed reduction, X-Ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Catalyst formed by MK-10 clay covered by magnesium oxide and 40 wt.% of nickel showed the highest conversion, higher than 99%, and 100% of THFA selectivity. The activity was maintained for several reuses. Additionally, we also studied the viability of THFA hydrogenolysis, with the ring-opening towards diols, using some catalysts containing copper or iridium with rhenium as modifier.