Highly Efficient and Selective Hydrogenation of Biomass-Derived Furfural Using Interface-Active Rice Husk-Based Porous Carbon-Supported NiCu Alloy Catalysts

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 29; no. 11; p. 2638
• Main Authors: Ding, Zhiyao, Gao, Yujun, Hu, Lianghai, Yang, Xiaomin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 03.06.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Acidification; Acids; Alcohol; Alloys; Carbon; Catalysts; furfural; Hydrogenation; Nanoparticles; NiCu bimetallic catalyst; Pore size; Precious metals; Ratios; tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol; China; NiCu bimetallic catalyst; tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol; furfural
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112638

A series of bimetallic NixCuy catalysts with different metal molar ratios, supported on nitric acid modified rice husk-based porous carbon (RHPC), were prepared using a simple impregnation method for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural (FFA) to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA). The Ni2Cu1/RHPC catalyst, with an average metal particle size of 9.3 nm, exhibits excellent catalytic performance for the selective hydrogenation of FFA to THFA. The 100% conversion of FFA and the 99% selectivity to THFA were obtained under mild reaction conditions (50 °C, 1 MPa, 1 h), using water as a green reaction solvent. The synergistic effect of NiCu alloy ensures the high catalytic activity. The acid sites and oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of the modified RHPC can enhance the selectivity of THFA. The Ni2Cu1/RHPC catalyst offers good cyclability and regenerability. The current work proposes a simple method for preparing an NiCu bimetallic catalyst. The catalyst exhibits excellent performance in the catalytic hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, which broadens the application of non-noble metal bimetallic nanocatalysts in the catalytic hydrogenation of furfural.