Aqueous phase hydrogenation of furfural using carbon-supported Ru and RuSn catalysts

Abstract

The aqueous phase hydrogenation (APH) of furfural was studied over carbon-supported monometallic Ru and bimetallic RuSn catalysts at 90 °C and 1.25 MPa. Tin was added via Surface Organometallic Chemistry on Metals techniques and its effect was a function of the Sn/Ru atomic ratio. Thus, the addition of Sn in a Sn/Ru ratio of 0.4 promoted the C[dbnd]O hydrogenation reaching a selectivity towards furfuryl alcohol over 85% throughout the course of the reaction. A higher concentration of tin does not improve the situation. It seems to be a compromise between the dilution of Ru sites, active for the hydrogenation reaction, and the promoting effect of Sn. TEM, TPR and XPS characterization indicate the strong interaction between Ru and Sn in all the bimetallic catalysts. Finally, the reuse of the catalyst was analyzed.