Improving catalytic performance and reusability of flower-like Co-B-P amorphous alloy nanobelts for the selective hydrogenation of furfural in water

Abstract

Herein, active, low-cost, stable, and sustainable amorphous alloy Co-B-P nanobelts (NBs) are synthesized for the selective hydrogenation of furfural (FFR) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA) in H2O. The Co-B-P NBs are flower-like bundles of ultrathin nanosheets obtained by reducing Co ions in a layered liquid crystal using double-reducing agents at room temperature. The specific surface area, hydrogen adsorption capacity, surface states, and FFR selective hydrogenation performance of the Co-B-P NB catalyst can be modified via low-temperature plasma treatment. The treatment does not change the amorphous structure of Co-B-P NBs. In H2O, Co-B-P NBs treated with plasma at an appropriate power and time exhibit 100% FFR conversion and 95.8% FFA selectivity within 80 min at 80 °C and 1.2 MPa H2 pressure. Moreover, plasma treatment can be used to regenerate Co-B-P NB catalysts. The catalytic activity of Co-B-P NB catalysts can be restored using plasma treatment when it decreases because of their oxidation after several hydrogenation cycles.