Liquid Phase Furfural Hydrotreatment to 2-Methylfuran with Carbon Supported Copper, Nickel, and Iron Catalysts

In this study inexpensive, non-toxic, and noble metal free mono- and bimetallic catalysts on activated carbon were tested in liquid phase catalytic furfural hydrotreatment to a potential biofuel component 2-methylfuran. High yields of 2-methylfuran were achieved in the study, the highest yield was achieved with 10 wt-% Ni/C (48.9%) in 120 minutes and good results were obtained also with bimetallic 2/2 wt-% CuNi/C and CuFe/C (yield 44.2 and 41.0%, respectively). These high yields were achieved applying significantly shorter reaction time (60 – 120 min) compared to many published studies. The activity of nickel catalysts was very high resulting eventually in further hydrogenation of 2-methylfuran. With increasing nickel loading also ring-opening and decarbonylation reactions were promoted. Addition of iron to nickel was beneficial for decreasing decarbonylation and other side reactions. Copper/nickel and copper/iron combinations were observed to have beneficial interaction as activity and selectivity to MF increased significantly.