Selective hydrogenolysis of furfural-derived tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to 1,5-Pentanediol over Ni-Co/La(OH)x bimetallic catalysts

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) 2025-03, Vol.383, Article 133905
• Main Authors: Chen, Xiao, Li, Rongrong, Hu, Zhengwen, Zhong, Ying, Hu, Deng, Liang, Changhai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1,5-Pentanediol; Alloy sites; Furfural; Hydrogenolysis; Metal−support interface
• ISSN: 0016-2361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2024.133905

[Display omitted] •1,5-PeD is synthesized by the hydrogenolysis of THFA over Ni-Co/La(OH)x catalysts.•The Ni-Co alloy and interfacial NiCo-OV-La3+ sites are discovered.•High selectivity to 1,5-PeD (88.6%) is achieved at 98.1% conversion of THFA.•The Ni4Co1/La(OH)x exhibits highly efficient in hydrogenation of FAL to 1,5-PeD.•The Ni4Co1/La(OH)x catalyst showcases remarkable stability. The selective activation of targeted bonds within renewable biomass-derived furanic compounds for the production of high-value alkyl diols holds significant importance for biomass upgrading, necessitating well-defined catalysts and clearly defined catalytically active sites. Herein, 1,5-pentanediol is synthesized through the selective hydrogenolysis of furfural-derived tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol utilizing Ni-Co/La(OH)x bimetallic catalysts. The La(OH)x with abundant defect sites polarizes Ni-Co alloy for heterocracking of H2, as well as leads to expose more interfacial NiCo-OV-La3+ sites. By harnessing the synergistic interplay between the alloy sites and the interfacial sites, the optimized Ni4Co1/La(OH)x bimetallic catalyst markedly enhances the adsorption of –OH groups in tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and facilitates the selective assault of active H species on the C-O-C bonds within tetrahydrofuran rings. This approach markedly elevates the selective hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to 1,5-pentanediol, attaining an exceptional selectivity of 88.6 % with a conversion of 98.1 % for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Furthermore, the Ni4Co1/La(OH)x bimetallic catalyst demonstrates exceptional performance in the one-pot hydrogenation-hydrogenolysis of furfural to 1,5-pentanediol, exhibiting a low activation energy of 17.77 kJ/mol and a high turnover frequency of 192.1 h−1. Notably, the Ni4Co1/La(OH)x bimetallic catalyst showcases remarkable stability. This outcome provides invaluable insights for the advancement of a sustainable process to produce diol monomers from renewable resources with a low carbon footprint.