Single pot selective conversion of furfural into 2-methylfuran over a Co-CoOx/AC bifunctional catalyst

Abstract

Exploring low-cost green catalysts to achieve green organic chemicals and fuels from biomass is one of the crucial ways to solve the energy crisis. The 20 wt% Co-CoOx/AC catalysts were prepared to achieve the one-pot conversion of furfural to 2-methylfuran under milder reaction conditions (120 °C, 2.5 MPa H2), shorter reaction time (5 h) and less catalyst dosage by regulating the ratio of metal to oxide species. The yield of 2-methylfuran reached 87.4 % is achieved under 20 wt% Co-CoOx/AC catalyst conditions, and there was no significant degradation of all catalyst properties after five cycles. Characterization results showed that the active components in the catalyst were present as Co0 species with CoOx species. The reaction mechanism was explained by combining the characterization results, experimental data and DFT calculations. The formyl group of the furfural side chain is first adsorbed on the Co0 species, and furfuryl alcohol is produced in the presence of the Co0 species. Subsequently, the CoOx species adsorbs the CO bond on the side chain, which is broken in the presence of the CoOx species to form 2-methylfuran. The excellent catalytic activity of the 20 wt% Co-CoOx/AC catalyst provide a promising application for preparing 2-methylfuran by hydrodeoxygenation of furfural.