Boosted activity of Cu/SiO2 catalyst for furfural hydrogenation by freeze drying

Abstract

ABSTRACT The biomass valorization is of great importance as an alternative for the production of transport fuels and fine chemicals. Furfural hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol is a prevailing industrial route for the utilization of hemicellulose component of biomass. The toxicity of the chromium species in commercial copper chromite catalyst for furfuryl alcohol production motivates the development of efficient chromium-free catalyst. Thus, a highly efficient silica supported copper catalyst is developed in this study. The catalyst is prepared by freeze drying of a gel precursor that is synthesized by ammonia evaporation, followed by calcination and H2 reduction. The catalyst exhibits higher furfural hydrogenation activity than oven dried catalyst, commercial copper chromite catalyst and a plant supplied commercial silica supported copper catalyst. The catalyst also shows good stability. The superior performance of the freeze dried catalyst has resulted from its developed pore structure and higher amount of Cu0 as well as Cu+ active sites.