Liquid phase hydrogenation of furfural to biofuel over robust NiCu/Laponite catalyst: A study on the role of copper loading

Abstract

Sustainable production of biofuel and chemical feedstock through catalytic hydrogenation has now received increased attention due to the expeditious depletion of crude oil. In the present investigation, we developed a cost-effective and base metal-based NiCu/Laponite catalyst for liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural into fuel range components. The robust catalysts were prepared by a simple co-impregnation method with constant loading of 5 wt% NiO with different wt.% of CuO (x) loadings (where x = 8, 10, 12 & 14%) on the Laponite support. The textural properties, surface acidity, and reduction of the synthesized catalysts were studied by employing various physicochemical characterizations such as XRD, N2 sorption analysis, NH3-TPD, H2-TPR, and TGA. The obtained results revealed that optimum loading of 12% CuO and 5% NiO catalyst aids fine dispersion of copper and nickel oxide on the surface of the support. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images displayed the delamination of Laponite particles and dispersion of Ni-Cu catalyst on the support surface. The hydrogenation efficiency of the synthesized catalysts was tested in a bench top stainless steel autoclave reactor by liquid phase reaction condition of furfural at 150–210 °C under 10–25 bar H2 pressure for 1–6 h. The excellent activity of 5Ni-12Cu/Laponite catalysts was compared and correlated with the physicochemical characteristics of the catalyst.