Selective hydrogenation of furfural over Pt based and Pd based bimetallic catalysts supported on modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT)

Nano-Pt and Nano-Pd particles were introduced to modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes via co-impregnation method for hydrogenation of furfural in liquid phase using ethanol as a solvent. Different transition metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) was used as promoters using Pt/MWNT and Pd/MWNT catalysts and various supports were also compared to further investigate the hydrogenation process of furfural. Among the catalysts investigated, Pt–Fe/MWNT (Pt: 0.5   wt%) showed highest conversion and selectivity to furfuryl alcohol (yield of 87.4%), while Pd–Ni/MWNT (Pd: 0.5   wt%) catalysts exhibited the best catalytic performance (83.3% yield of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol) under the optimized conditions of 30   bar hydrogen and 5   h, at 100 and 130   °C, respectively. Synergistic effect of bimetallic catalysts has been utilized to improve catalytic activity and stability. The extremely active for the selective hydrogenation of furfural over Pt–Fe/MWNT and Pd–Ni/MWNT catalyst might be attributed to active crystal planes exposed over Pt and Pd promoted by Fe and Ni. Catalysts have shown stable activity and selectivity after 5 cycles using Pt–Fe/MWNT and Pd–Ni/MWNT catalysts. Moreover, we suggest that acid sites of conventional supports might have an impact on furfural conversion.