Effect of niobium oxide phase on the furfuryl alcohol dehydration

Abstract

Different structural phases (e.g., TT, T, and H) of niobium oxide were synthesized, characterized by XRD and Raman, and utilized for the furfuryl alcohol dehydration and condensation under mild conditions (100 °C and ambient pressure). Furfuryl alcohol conversion was dependent on reaction time and niobium oxide phase. Niobic acid and T/H phase transitional niobium oxide showed higher catalytic activity in comparison to a single crystalline phase niobium oxide. While T/H phase transitional niobium oxide showed higher conversion than that of niobic acid and TT phase niobium oxide, higher C9-C15 products’ selectivity (> 60%) was obtained with the latter catalysts.