Direct conversion of furfural to 1,5-pentanediol over a nickel-cobalt oxide-alumina trimetallic catalyst

Abstract

The use of a Ni-CoOx-Al2O3 mixed metal-metal oxide catalyst was proposed for the one-pot direct conversion of furfural (FFA) to 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PDO), which afforded a high yield (47.5%) at 160 degrees C and at an initial H-2 pressure of 3 MPa for 6 h in ethanol. Proximity between the Ni-0 and oxygen-vacant CoOx (O-v-CoOx) sites favored the dissociative adsorption of H-2 molecules on Ni-0 and subsequent hydrogen spillover to O-v-CoOx. The hydrogenation of the CO group of FFA produced furfuryl alcohol, which was then adsorbed on the Co delta+ center of the O-v-CoOx site in a eta(1)-(O)-alcoholic configuration, where subsequent C-O bond cleavage produced 1,5-PDO. Catalytic activity loss through the oxidation of the Ni-0 and O-v sites could be mitigated by reactivation under H-2. Thus, the developed Ni-CoOx-Al2O3 catalyst has potential for efficient, low-cost, and environmentally friendly 1,5-PDO production from FFA.