Preparation of packing type catalysts AAO@Al/Meso-SiO2-SO3H for the dehydration of xylose into furfural

Abstract

This work is focused on preparation of packing type catalyst for dehydration of xylose into furfural. Different preparation methods such as liquid phase synthesis and evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) synthesis were considered. A series of sulfonated mesoporous catalysts were prepared through EISA synthesis to optimise high-active components, such as FDU-5-SO3H, SBA-15-SO3H, and SBA-16-SO3H. Results show that the superior catalyst FDU-5-7.5E-SO3H with a xylose conversion of 96.81% and a furfural selectivity of 81.11% stood out at a reaction temperature of 160 °C. Packing type catalysts with various morphologies, such as particle, nanotube and nanorod were synthetized. The results of SEM indicated that the degassing treatments were significant ways to enhance filling rate and EISA synthesis was effective to improve the morphology. According to the work mentioned above, packing type catalyst AAO@Al/FDU-5-7.5E-SO3H with xylose conversion of 94.85% and furfural selectivity of 66.19% was prepared. Mechanical and thermal stability tests demonstrated that packing type catalyst had a strong application feasibility in a continuous reactor.