Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol in the Presence of Ru-Containing Catalysts Based on New Zeolite-Like Materials

Abstract

Catalytic liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural to commercially important furfuryl alcohol was studied in the presence of Ru-containing catalysts based on Sibunit and zeo-type materials, such as nickel phosphate molecular sieves (VSB-5 and Fe-VSB-5) and zirconium-containing metal–organic frameworks (UiO-66(Zr)-R, R = H and NH₂), at 30 and 50°C and 5–25 atm of hydrogen. The yield of furfuryl alcohol was found to depend on the nature of the support and increases in the following order: Ru/UiO-66(Zr)-NH₂ < Ru/UiO-66(Zr) < Ru/Fe-VSB-5 < Ru/VSB-5. The effect of hydrogen pressure and temperature on the selectivity toward furfuryl alcohol was investigated.