Construction of Novel Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 Composites for Furfural Hydrogenation: The Role of Al components

Xiaohai Yang, Qingwei Meng, Guoqiang Ding, Yueqing Wang, Huimin Chen, Yu lei Zhu, Yong Wang Li

Index: 10.1016/j.apcata.2018.04.005

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Abstract

Novel Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 composites had been constructed and applied in furfural hydrogenation to produce furfuryl alcohol in a fixed-bed reactor. As the result, conversion of FFA over Cu/ZnO catalyst (within 16–24 h TOS) could be improved from 84.9% to 98.0% at 120 °C and 51.4% to 72.1% at 100 °C with a high selectivity of FOL (≈98%) over the novelly constructed Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 catalyst. The role of Al components derived from different precursors like Al(NO3)3, as-prepared Al(OH)3 and pseudo-boehmite had been systemically investigated by various techniques such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, H2-TPR, N2O titration, XPS, AES experiments and confirmed to be both improving dispersion of copper/zinc species and hindering Cu-ZnO interaction of the aurichalcite derived catalysts. Preparation of the industrial Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts had been revealed and explained more clearly.