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Clay as support for copper catalysts for the hydrogenation of furfural and phenolics
Author(s) -
Tian Hongli,
Shao Yuewen,
Zhang Lijun,
Jia Peng,
Zhang Zhanming,
Liu Qianhe,
Zhang Shu,
Liu Qing,
Wang Yi,
Hu Xun
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.6324
Subject(s) - furfural , catalysis , chemistry , furfuryl alcohol , vanillin , benzaldehyde , sodium hydroxide , organic chemistry , calcination , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry
BACKGROUND Ordinary clay is an abundantly available and widely distributed material, the use of which as supporting material can minimize the cost in manufacturing catalysts. This study investigated the potential for the direct use of ordinary clay and treated clay as supports of copper (Cu)‐based catalysts for hydrogenation of furfural and some phenolic compounds. RESULTS The catalyst treated with alkali showed better activity at 100 °C whereas the activity of other catalysts was negligible, and when the temperature was raised, the activity of all the catalysts was obviously improved. In addition, the catalysts treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) showed fair activity for 5‐hydroxyl methyl furfural, vanillin and benzaldehyde, and the stability of the catalyst also was good: after four cycles of experiments, the yield of furfuryl alcohol could still reach >95%. CONCLUSIONS Activation of clay with NaOH effectively enhanced not only the surface area and porous structures, but also the alkalinity of the catalyst, suppressing side reactions such as acetalization between furfural and ethanol, and facilitated hydrogenation of furfural. Comparing with clay washed with sulfuric acid or calcined at various temperatures, the clay activated with NaOH showed superior hydrogenation of not only furfural, but also 5‐hydroxyl methyl furfural, vanillin and benzaldehyde, as a result of the presence of abundant mesopores and alkaline sites. The ordinary clay‐supported Cu catalyst also showed acceptable activity for hydrogenation reactions at a higher reaction temperature, which has particular importance for practical applications because the clay can be used directly as supporting material. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry