High-Loaded Copper-Containing Sol-Gel Catalysts for Furfural Hydroconversion

In this study, the high-loaded copper-containing catalysts modified with Fe and Al were successfully applied for the hydroconversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FA) or 2-methylfuran (2-MF) in a batch reactor. The synthesized catalysts were studied using a set of characterization techniques to find the correlation between their activity and physicochemical properties. Fine Cu-containing particles distributed in an amorphous SiO₂ matrix, which has a high surface area, provide the conversion of furfural to FA or 2-MF under exposure to high pressure of hydrogen. The modification of the mono-copper catalyst with Fe and Al increases its activity and selectivity in the target process. The reaction temperature strongly affects the selectivity of the formed products. At a H₂ pressure of 5.0 MPa, the highest selectivity toward FA (98%) and 2-MF (76%) was achieved in the case of 35Cu13Fe1Al-SiO₂ at the temperature of 100 °C and 250 °C, respectively.