Study of Ni, Pt, and Ru Catalysts on Wood‐based Activated Carbon Supports and their Activity in Furfural Conversion to 2‐Methylfuran

Abstract

Bio‐based chemicals can be produced from furfural through hydrotreatment. In this study, 2‐methylfuran (MF), a potential biofuel component, was produced with Pt, Ru, and Ni catalysts supported on wood‐based activated carbons. The catalytic hydrotreatment experiments were conducted in a batch reactor at 210–240 °C with 2‐propanol as solvent and 40 bar H2 pressure. Two types of activated carbon supports were prepared by carbonization and activation of lignocellulosic biomass (forest‐residue‐based birch and spruce from Finland). Both types of activated carbons were suitable as catalyst supports, giving up to 100 % furfural conversions. The most important factors affecting the MF yield were the metal dispersion and particle size as well as reaction temperature. The highest observed MF yields were achieved with the noble metal catalysts with the highest dispersions at 240 °C after 120 min reaction time: 3 wt % Pt on spruce (MF yield of 50 %) and 3 wt % Ru on birch (MF yield of 49 %). Nickel catalysts were less active most likely owing to lower dispersions and incomplete metal reduction. Interesting results were obtained also with varying the metal loadings: the lower Pt loading (1.5 wt %) achieved almost the same MF yield as the 3 wt % catalysts, which can enable the production of MF with high yields and reduced catalyst costs. Based on this study, biomass‐based renewable activated carbons can be used as catalyst supports in furfural hydrotreatment with high conversions.

Catalytic conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over biomass-based activated carbon catalyst

“…Dried ACBs were extracted in boiling toluene for 2 hours in order to remove unreacted sulfuric acid, after which they were water-washed and then dried overnight at 105 ˚C [42]. To introduce Lewis acid sites on the ACW surface, catalysts were prepared by incipient-wetness impregnation method [43][44] of a precursor salt, ZnCl2, and selected to contain nominal 5 wt.% or 15 wt.% of zinc (ACL and ACL2, respectively, Figure 2). Impregnation was performed overnight in a rotating mixer (Rotavapor) at room temperature.…”

Room‐Temperature Morphology‐Controlled Synthesis of Nickel and Catalytic Properties of Corresponding Ru/Ni Catalysts

“…To determine the chemical state of nickel and ruthenium element in these catalysts (Ru/Ni‐No, Ru/Ni‐CTAB and Ru/Ni‐PVP), XPS analysis for Ru 3p and Ni 2p level was performed (Figure ). In the Ni 2p XPS spectra (Figure a–c), the satellite peaks with higher binding energy (861.2 eV and 879.7 eV) can be attributed to multi‐electron excitation . Through analyzing and fitting Ni 2p XPS peaks of these three Ru/Ni samples, we can clearly find that the nickel specie on their surface is mainly oxidation state nickel, such as NiO (binding energy (B.E)=853.9 eV and 871.2 eV), Ni(OH) 2 (B.E=855.4 eV and 872.9 eV) and NiOOH (B.E=857.1 eV and 874.4 eV) .…”

The Implementation of Mutually using Lewis and Brønsted Acidic Functionalized Carbon supported Solid Acid Catalysts derived from Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunch for 5-Hydroxy Methylfurfural (5-HMF) Production

“…then dried overnight at 105 °C. Subsequently, the dried aluminium doped POFB-PC was calcined in a tube furnace at 200 ºC for 3 h under argon atmosphere with a heating rate of 3 ºC/min [21]. For the Brønsted acid functionalized-POFB-PC, 50 wt% H 2 SO 4 aqueous solution was dispersed in the POFB PC support by mixing the acid solution and the porous carbon support under stirring for about an hour.…”