Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2015, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (7): 933-942.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(15)60870-1

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Cr-free Co-Cu/SBA-15 catalysts for hydrogenation of biomass-derived α-, β-unsaturated aldehyde to alcohol

Sanjay Srivastavaa, Pravakar Mohantyb,c, Jigisha K. Parikha, Ajay K. Dalaid, S. S. Amritphalee, Anup K. Kharee   

  1. a Department of Chemical Engineering, S. V. National Institute of Technology, Ichchhanath, SURAT-395 007, Gujarat, India;
    b Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi-110016, India;
    c Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute (SPRERI), V V Nagar, Gujarat 388120, India;
    d Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratories, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9, Canada;
    e Advanced Material and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Bhopal 462064, India
  • Received:2015-01-13 Revised:2015-04-21 Online:2015-06-12 Published:2015-07-30

Abstract:

Cr-free bi-metallic SBA-15-supported Co-Cu catalysts were examined in the conversion of biomass-derived α-, β-unsaturated aldehyde (furfural) to value-added chemical furfuryl alcohol (FOL). Co-Cu/SBA-15 catalysts with a fixed Cu loading of 10 wt% and varying Co loadings (2.5, 5, and 10 wt%) were prepared by the impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption, H2 temperature-programmed reduction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, CO chemisorption, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The influence of different reaction parameters such as temperature, pressure, catalyst dosage, and furfural concentration on the catalyst performance was evaluated. Relative to catalysts supported on amorphous silica, the current SBA-15-supported Co-Cu catalysts displayed higher performance, attaining a furfural conversion of 99% and furfuryl alcohol selectivity of 80%. The catalytic reactions were conducted in a 100-mL autoclave at 170 ℃ and 2 MPa H2 pressure for 4 h.

Key words: Mesoporous catalyst, Cobalt, Copper, SBA-15, Furfural, Furfuryl alcohol, Hydrogenation