Abstract

This work presents the results obtained for the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) monitoring of the liquid-phase hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction of furfural (FFR) to 2-methylfuran (MF) over a bifunctional Ru/RuOx/C catalyst in the presence of a direct source of H2. Hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis reactions of FFR and of the intermediate furfuryl alcohol (FA), respectively, were independently studied to provide insights on the HDO mechanism. The mass spectra monitoring of the kinetic isotope effect indicated the HDO reaction occurs through a two-step mechanism comprising of an initial ruthenium-mediated hydrogenation reaction of FFR to FA. In the second step, the FA thus formed experiences a hydrogenolysis reaction via ring activation where the hydrogen atoms are firstly attached to the C3 carbon generating a ring activated structure and removing the OH group. The observation of the peaks at m/z 85 and 84 in the mass spectrum of the MF product confirms this reaction pathway.

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