Selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural over supported Ni3Sn2 alloy: Role of supports

Abstract

A highly active and selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural into furfuryl alcohol was achieved using supported single phase Ni3Sn2alloy catalysts. Various supports such as active carbon (AC), γ-Al2O3, Al(OH)3, ZnO, TiO2, ZrO2, MgO, Li-TN, and SiO2have been employed in order to understand the role of the support on the formation of Ni3Sn2aUoy phase and its catalytic performance. Supported Ni3Sn2 alloy catalysts were synthesised via a simple hydrothermal treatment of the mixture of aqueous solution of nickel chloride hexahydrate and ethanol solution of tin(II) chloride dihydrate in presence of ethylene glycol at 423 K for 24 h followed by H2 treatment at 673 K for 1.5 h, then characterised by using ICP-AES, XRD, H2-and N2-adsorption. XRD profiles of samples showed that the Ni3Sn2 alloy phases are readily formed during hydrothermal processes and become clearly observed at 26 = 43-44o after H2 treatment. The presence of Ni3Sn2aUoy species that dispersed on the supports is believed to play a key role in highly active and selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural towards furfuryl alcohol. Ni3Sn2on TiO2and ZnO supports exhibited much lower reaction temperature to achieved >99% yield of furfuryl alcohol product compared with other supports. The effects of loading amount of Ni-Sn, reaction conditions (temperature and time profile) on the activity and selectivity towards the desired product are systematically discussed.