In the pursuit of the net-zero goal,
the use of biomass-derived
feedstock for the manufacture of fuels, chemicals, and polymers has
taken a central stage. In this regard, selective hydrogenation of
furfural, a platform chemical obtained from lignocellulosic biomass,
to cyclopentanone (CPO) is commercially attractive. In the current
work, a bimetallic catalyst based on transition metals Ni and Cu loaded
onto the MOF-5 support, synthesized by the incipient wetness process,
was used in the hydrogenation of furfural to selectively produce CPO.
5 wt % Ni–Cu (1:1) @MOF-5 catalyst gave 100% furfural conversion
with 96% CPO yield at 150 °C and 25 bar hydrogen pressure in
5 h. The doping of nickel and copper on MOF-5 leads to a synergetic
effect, providing enhanced hydrostability, reducing ability, and promotion
of the CO bond, inhibition of furan ring hydrogenation, and suppression
of the formation of a likely byproduct tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.
In addition to enhancing reactant adsorption, the inclusion of Ni-Cu
on the MOF also provides weak Lewis acid sites, enhancing the selectivity
of CPO. The optimization of the process parameters was done. Reaction
mechanisms and kinetics were studied. The virgin and reused catalysts
were thoroughly characterized to shed light on the reaction mechanism
and selectivity. This is a biobased clean and green process for the
synthesis of a valuable chemical.