Single-Pot Formation of THFAL via Catalytic Hydrogenation of FFR Over Pd/MFI Catalyst

Abstract

Furfural (FFR) was selectively hydrogenated in a single pot to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFAL) over a Si–MFI molecular sieve supported Pd catalyst. Studies on catalyst screening revealed that both the metal function and the support were critical for directing the selectivity to the ring-hydrogenated product, THFAL. The structural feature of MFI as shown by XRD was completely retained in the used sample of the 3% Pd/MFI catalyst confirming its stability under reaction conditions. XRD, along with SEM characterization of the used samples, established retention of morphology of the structured silicate, suggesting a strong interaction between hexagonal porous silicate and Pd particles. The complete conversion of FFR with an enhanced selectivity of 95% to THFAL could be achieved by recycling the crude of the first hydrogenation experiment over the same 3% Pd/MFI catalyst.