Hydrogenative rearrangement of bioderived furfurals to cyclopentanones over Ni/Nb2O5 catalysts: Promotion effect of reducible NbOx and water. (15th April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cai, Wenqing; Li, Yuefeng; Zheng, Quanxing; Song, Mengxue; Ma, Pengfei; Fang, Weiping; Song, Wenjing; Lai, Weikun
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 338(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04-15
• Subjects: Reducible NbOx -- Furfural hydrogenation -- Rearrangement -- Water promotion -- Cyclopentanone; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.127345
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Ni/Nb2 O5 catalysts with reducible NbOx species were synthesized. An exceedingly high cyclopentanone yield was achieved by using Ni/Nb2 O5 in H2 O. Superior performance resulted from close cooperation between Ni-NbOx sites and H2 O. NbOx sites facilitated furfural adsorption via flat configuration. H2 O mediated furfural activation and transferred active hydrogen. Abstract: Selective aqueous hydrogenation of furfurals to valuable cyclopentanones is attractive for biomass utilization. Herein, Ni/Nb2 O5 catalysts with different calcination temperatures were synthesized and employed to study the effect of reducible NbOx species and water solvent on the aqueous hydrogenation-rearrangement of furfural. A significantly higher cyclopentanone (CPO) yield (>92 %) was achieved in water on Ni/Nb2 O5 -500, while no CPO was detected in heptane. Catalysts characterization indicated that the calcination temperature of Nb2 O5 determined the crystallinity and modulated reducible NbOx . Kinetic and isotopic experiments elucidated that the excellent catalytic performance of Ni/Nb2 O5 remarkably correlated with surface reducible NbOx species and H2 O-mediated effect. NbOx species closely interacted with Ni sites, in which Ni was in charge of H2 activation and NbOx facilitated furfural adsorption via flat configuration. Water helped furfural activation and active hydrogen transfer between Ni sites and adsorbed furfural on NbOx sites, thus significantly boosted aqueous hydrogenation of furfural to CPO.