Investigation on the synthesis of furfural via pyrolysis utilizing metal-loaded solid acid catalysts

The preparation of furfural, a valuable platform compound, through pyrolysis is an approach with practical prospects. Since cellulose represents the most abundant component in biomass feedstocks, enhancing its selectivity towards furfural during pyrolysis is crucial. In this study, S0 4 2- /Zr0 2 -based catalysts by loading them with various metals such as Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn was used to optimize furfural yield from cellulose. Among these catalysts, those loaded with iron (Fe) achieved the highest selectivity for furfural, with the best performance at a loading of 6 % by weight. This is because an appropriate amount of loaded metal Fe can manipulate the acidity sites on the catalyst surface, reducing the ratio of weak acid to strong acid and favoring selective production of furfural. Additionally, moderate metal loading can enhance both specific surface area and total pore volume of the catalyst, further improving catalytic performance. The research using a catalyst with the loading of 6 %wt Fe showed that the furfural content in cellulose pyrolysis products reached its maximum when the pyrolysis temperature was 600°C. Further increase in temperature led to the decomposition and conversion of furfural into other products, reducing the furfural selectivity. The addition of catalyst effectively improved the furfural selectivity in cellulose pyrolysis products, and as the ratio of catalyst to cellulose gradually increased, the furfural selectivity reached its maximum value of 31.53 % at a pyrolysis temperature of 600℃ and a catalyst to cellulose ratio of 4:1. These findings provide an insight into the use of biomass for furfural preparation and improving the efficiency of its preparation.