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Study of Ni, Pt, and Ru Catalysts on Wood‐based Activated Carbon Supports and their Activity in Furfural Conversion to 2‐Methylfuran
Author(s) -
Mäkelä Eveliina,
Lahti Riikka,
Jaatinen Salla,
Romar Henrik,
Hu Tao,
Puurunen Riikka L.,
Lassi Ulla,
Karinen Reetta
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201800263
Subject(s) - furfural , catalysis , activated carbon , chemistry , yield (engineering) , carbonization , noble metal , lignocellulosic biomass , carbon fibers , hydrodeoxygenation , metal , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , materials science , lignin , composite number , selectivity , metallurgy , adsorption , composite material , engineering
Bio‐based chemicals can be produced from furfural through hydrotreatment. In this study, 2‐methylfuran (MF), a potential biofuel component, was produced with Pt, Ru, and Ni catalysts supported on wood‐based activated carbons. The catalytic hydrotreatment experiments were conducted in a batch reactor at 210–240 °C with 2‐propanol as solvent and 40 bar H 2 pressure. Two types of activated carbon supports were prepared by carbonization and activation of lignocellulosic biomass (forest‐residue‐based birch and spruce from Finland). Both types of activated carbons were suitable as catalyst supports, giving up to 100 % furfural conversions. The most important factors affecting the MF yield were the metal dispersion and particle size as well as reaction temperature. The highest observed MF yields were achieved with the noble metal catalysts with the highest dispersions at 240 °C after 120 min reaction time: 3 wt % Pt on spruce (MF yield of 50 %) and 3 wt % Ru on birch (MF yield of 49 %). Nickel catalysts were less active most likely owing to lower dispersions and incomplete metal reduction. Interesting results were obtained also with varying the metal loadings: the lower Pt loading (1.5 wt %) achieved almost the same MF yield as the 3 wt % catalysts, which can enable the production of MF with high yields and reduced catalyst costs. Based on this study, biomass‐based renewable activated carbons can be used as catalyst supports in furfural hydrotreatment with high conversions.