Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural: Pure Silica Supported Metal Catalysts

Furfural is a raw material for the preparation of furan derivatives with active chemical properties. Due to its ability to prepare various high value-added chemicals through oxidation, condensation, hydrogenation, and other reactions, furfural has received extensive attention. The activity of catalyst depends largely on the solvent effect, reaction temperature, metal-support interaction, metal nanoparticle size, and also depends on the synthesis method of catalyst. In this review, mono-metal (Cu, Co, Ni, Fe, Zn, Zr, Au, Pt, Pd, etc.) and bimetallic (Cu-, Ni-, Pt- and Pd-, etc.) catalysts supported on mesoporous silica materials for the hydrogenation of furfural to various high value-added chemicals in gas or liquid phase are highlighted. At the same time, some feasible suggestions are put forward. Mono-metal catalysts are prone to deactivation (due to carbon deposition and metal sintering), and the addition of a second metal or solvent modification can be used to improve catalyst activity, furfural conversion, and product selectivity.