Abstract
Furfural (FF) has a high potential to become a major renewable platform molecule to produce biofuels and bio-based chemicals. The catalytic performances of AuxPty and AuxPdy bimetallic nanoparticulate systems supported on TiO2 were studied in a base-free aerobic oxidation of furfural to furoic acid (FA) and maleic acid (MA) in water. The characterization of the catalysts was performed using standard techniques. The optimum reaction conditions were also investigated, including the reaction time, the reaction temperature, the metal ratio, and the metal loading. The present work shows a synergistic effect existing between Au, Pd, and Pt in the alloy, where the performances of the catalysts were strongly dependent on the metal ratio. The highest selectivity (100%) to FA was obtained using Au3-Pd1 catalysts, with 88% using 0.5% Au3Pt1 with about 30% of FF conversion at 80 °C. Using Au-Pd-based catalysts, the maximum yield of MA (14%) and 5% of 2(5H)-furanone (FAO) were obtained by using a 2%Au1-Pd1/TiO2 catalyst at 110 °C.
Highlights
The catalytic oxidation of bio-based molecules in general and of furanics in particular is a highly attractive process
The results obtained for the bimetallic Au-Pt/TiO2 and Au-Pd/TiO2 catalysts with different metal loading and metal molar ratios are presented in Figures 1 and 2
No diffraction peaks fTraobmlet1h.eICmPe-OtaElsSpwareerde coabtasleyrsvtse.d. This indicates that the metal nanoparticles are well-dispersed on the surface of the support and that their particle sizes are very small (lCesastatlhyastn. 3 nm as confAirum(wedt.%b)y TEM analysPisd).(wAtn.%y) additional difPftra(wctti.o%n) peaks from T2i%OA22 wu/eTreiOo2bserved before 2a.n09d after the synthesis, -which confirms that no- modification of2t%hePdsu/TpipOo2rt occurred durin-g the synthesis
Summary
The catalytic oxidation of bio-based molecules in general and of furanics in particular is a highly attractive process. The oxidation of furfural can lead to the formation of many interesting molecules such as furoic acid (FA), maleic acid (MA), and succinic acid (SA) [2]. The oxidation of furfural to furoic acid is not easy because the overoxidation of products can be obtained. Very often the rate of these competitive reactions is likely to be limited by the decarboxylation of furoic acid [3]. The presence of a base allows for higher reaction rates, higher feed concentrations, better product solubility, and lower adsorption of the products on the catalyst surface [7], many disadvantages arise when controlling for the selectivity to the desired product and in avoiding forming other byproducts. There are several difficulties in the separation process that can occur
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