A Facile Synthesis Route to AuPd Alloys for the Selective Oxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐Furandicarboxylic Acid

Abstract

Synthesis of 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) can be achieved via catalytic oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF), in which both base and catalyst play important roles. This work presents the development of a simple synthesis method (based on a commercial parent 10 wt.% Pd/C catalyst) to prepare the bimetallic AuPd alloy catalysts (i. e., AuPd/C) for selective 5‐HMF oxidation to FDCA. When using the strong base of NaOH, Pd and Au cooperate to promote FDCA formation when deployed either separately (as a physical mixture of the monometallic Au/C and Pd/C catalysts) or ideally alloyed (AuPd/C), with complete 5‐HMF conversion and FDCA yields of 66 % vs 77 %, respectively. However, NaOH also promoted the formation of undesired by‐products, leading to poor mass balances (<81 %). Comparatively, under weak base conditions (using NaHCO3), an increase in Au loading in the AuPd/C catalysts enhances 5‐HMF conversion and FDCA productivity (due to the enhanced carbonyl oxidation capacity) which coincides with a superior mass balances of >97 %. Yet, the excessive Pd content in the AuPd/C catalysts was not beneficial in promoting FDCA formation.

Studies on the Catalytic Properties of Palladium–Niobium Electrocatalysts Supported on Carbon Nano-onions toward Isopropanol and Ethanol Electro-oxidation in an Alkaline Medium

“…This is in agreement with the results observed in HRTEM and EDS analysis. These findings are in relation to some work reported in the literature. − The JCPDS card number 34-0370 for Nb indicates that there is a possibility of diffraction signals at 38.51 and 69,68° corresponding to (Nb) (110) and (Nb) (211) . The overlap of the Nb peaks with those of Pd could also have contributed to peak broadening.…”