Selective hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol over Ni/CNTs and bimetallic Cu-Ni/CNTs catalysts

A series of Ni, Cu and bimetallic Cu-Ni catalysts with different metals loadings supported on CNTs were prepared by impregnation methods for liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA). Various effects of reaction parameters such as, reaction temperature, reaction time, hydrogen pressure, different supports and different loading amount of Ni over both monometallic and bimetallic catalysts were fully studied. Among the catalysts investigated, 10 wt% Ni/CNT and bimetallic Cu-Ni catalysts showed high conversion of furfural and selectivity towards THFA. Bimetallic Cu-Ni catalysts exhibit the best catalytic performance of 100% conversion of furfural and up to 90.3% selectivity towards THFA at mild condition of 130 degrees C, 40 bar hydrogen and 10 h reaction time. Cu Ni bimetallic synergistic effect has been interpreted through XPS measurement and a possible hydrogen-transfer mechanism is proposed. The features of the CNTs supported catalysts were investigated via XRD, XPS, TEM, H-2-TPR and the N-2 adsorption desorption isotherms. The Ni and bimetallic Cu-Ni catalysts prepared in this work is inexpensive and simple, which makes them a promising candidate for the conversion of furfural to THFA. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.