Selective Hydrogenation of Biomass-derived Furfural over Supported Ni3Sn2 Alloy: Role of Supports

Abstract

A highly active and selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural into furfuryl alcohol was achieved using supported single phase Ni3Sn2 alloy catalysts. Various supports such as active carbon (AC), -Al2O3, Al(OH)3, ZnO, TiO2, ZrO2, MgO, Li-TN, and SiO2 have been employed in order to under- stand the role of the support on the formation of Ni3Sn2 alloy phase and its catalytic performance. Sup- ported Ni3Sn2 alloy catalysts were synthesised via a simple hydrothermal treatment of the mixture of aqueous solution of nickel chloride hexahydrate and ethanol solution of tin(II) chloride dihydrate in presence of ethylene glycol at 423 K for 24 h followed by H2 treatment at 673 K for 1.5 h, then charac- terised by using ICP-AES, XRD, H2- and N2-adsorption. XRD profiles of samples showed that the Ni3Sn2 alloy phases are readily formed during hydrothermal processes and become clearly observed at 2θ = 43-44o after H2 treatment. The presence of Ni3Sn2 alloy species that dispersed on the supports is believed to play a key role in highly active and selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural to- wards furfuryl alcohol. Ni3Sn2 on TiO2 and ZnO supports exhibited much lower reaction temperature to achieved >99% yield of furfuryl alcohol product compared with other supports. The effects of loading amount of Ni-Sn, reaction conditions (temperature and time profile) on the activity and selectivity to- wards the desired product are systematically discussed. Copyright © 2016 BCREC GROUP. All rights reserved How to Cite: Rodiansono, R., Astuti, M.D., Khairi, S., Shimazu, S. (2016). Selective Hydrogenation of Biomass-derived Furfural over Supported Ni3Sn2 Alloy: Role of Supports. Bulletin of Chemical Reac- tion Engineering & Catalysis, 11 (1): 1-9. (doi:10.9767/bcrec.11.1.393.1-9) Permalink/DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.11.1.393.1-9