Tailoring selectivity in furfural hydrogenolysis over NiCoAl catalyst through a simple rinsing process

In this study, the structure–activity relationships were investigated in converting biomass-derived furfural into cyclopentanone (CPO) or tetrahydrofuran alcohol (THFA) using a rinsing method to modulate the NiCoAl catalyst. Characterization of two catalysts, NiCoAl (without rinsing) and NiCoAl-R (with rinsing), reveals differences in morphology, composition, and acidity. Rinsing induced a transition from agglomerate to layered structure in NiCoAl-R, which exhibited higher acid strength and improved Lewis to Brønsted acid ratio. NiCoAl-R contained a high percentage of metal oxides, while NiCoAl had a high percentage of metallic species on its surface. These distinctions resulted in varied performance in FFA hydrogenolysis, with NiCoAl-R favoring CPO formation and NiCoAl facilitating THFA production. In situ DRIFTS experiments reveals differing furfural sorption states, and DFT calculations highlighted the higher activity of metal oxides in ring-opening reactions. This investigation elucidates the intricate relationship between catalyst properties and performance, offering insights for tailored catalyst design in biomass conversion.