Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Furfural to 2-Methylfuran over Silica-Supported MoP Catalysts under Mild Conditions

Abstract

In the catalytic conversion of biomass-derived furfural to 2-methylfuran, a concerted combination of hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis is required. Highly dispersed MoP catalysts supported on SiO 2 were prepared by incipient impregnation with the aid of citric acid and subsequent temperature-programmed hydrogen reduction. The prepared MoP/SiO 2 exhibited a markedly high performance in the selective hydrodeoxygenation of furfural to 2-methylfuran. A full conversion of furfural with 96.3% selectivity to 2-methylfuran under mild reaction conditions (120 °C, 1.0 MPa, WHSV: 0.3 h −1 ) was obtained with over 20% MoP/SiO 2 in a continuous fixed bed reactor. The oxophilicity of Mo species and surface acidity of MoP might enhance the adsorption of furfural and the subsequent cleavage of the C−O bond of the intermediate furfuryl alcohol, leading to considerably high selectivity to 2-methylfuran. The complexion of Mo species with citric acid improved the dispersion of MoP particles due to the controllable decomposition of the complex in the course of preparation. Although the activity of MoP/SiO 2 decreased gradually with the reaction time in 50 h, it could be restored by in situ hydrogen reduction.