Boron doped magnetic catalysts for selective transfer hydrogenation of furfural into furfuryl alcohol. (16th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Danni; Zhang, Jun; Liu, Ying; Yuan, Haoran; Chen, Yong
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 229(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-16
• Subjects: Magnetic catalysts -- Transfer hydrogenation -- Furfural -- Furfuryl alcohol -- Activation energy; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.116075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Boron doped magnetic catalysts endowing with acidity/basicity ratio of 3.8~4.0 exhibited excellent performance as well as good regenerability in the transfer hydrogenation of furfural, where almost 100% furfuryl alcohol yield and activation energy of 48.3 kJ/mol could be achieved. Plausible mechanism involving two H-transfer paths for furfural-to-furfuryl alcohol was proposed. Highlights: B doped magnetic catalysts were efficient in the transfer hydrogenation of furfural. Acidity/basicity ratio of 3.8 ~ 4.0 apparently benefited furfuryl alcohol formation. Low E a of 48.3 kJ/mol for furfuryl alcohol production was attained over Zr1 B3 FeO. Plausible mechanism with two H-transfer paths was proposed for furfural conversion. Abstract: A series of boron doped magnetic zirconium catalysts were developed for the selective transfer hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural (FFR) into furfuryl alcohol (FA) using 2-propanol as hydrogen source and solvent. Full characterizations with XRD, SEM, TG, Py-IR, NH3 -TPD, and CO2 -TPD techniques were undertaken to uncover structural properties of magnetic catalysts. Boron doped magnetic zirconium catalysts endowing with adjustable acid-base sites exhibited excellent performance as well as good regenerability in the transfer hydrogenation of FFR, where almost 100% FA yield was achieved in the presence of 2-propanol and the catalyst still sustained good activity after being used five times. Suitable acidity/basicity ratio of 3.8 ~ 4.0 apparently benefited the selective production of FA. Gratifyingly, the activation energy for FA formation over Zr1 B3 FeO was as low as 48.3 kJ/mol. In addition, plausible reaction mechanism involving two H-transfer paths for transfer hydrogenation of FFR into FA under the catalysis of active Zr/B species was proposed.