Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol over Fe3O4 modified Ru/Carbon nanotubes catalysts

In this study, magnetic Fe 3 O 4 modified Ru/Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) catalysts were used to achieve the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA), with alcohols as the solvent and hydrogen donors . According to the result of the catalyst characterization, Fe 3 O 4 promoted the formation of Ru 0 species. The effects of Fe 3 O 4 loading and different hydrogen donors on the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of FF were tested, and the reaction parameters and catalyst stability were also analyzed. It is found that Fe 3 O 4 effectively enhanced the activity of Ru/CNTs in catalytic transfer hydrogenation of FF, the catalytic activity was optimized at the Fe 3 O 4 loading of 5 wt%, and the optimal hydrogen donor was i -propanol. Moreover, the Ru–Fe 3 O 4 /CNTs could be easily collected for further use and possessed excellent stability. The mechanism of the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of FF using Ru–Fe 3 O 4 /CNTs was discussed, and the corresponding catalyst activity groups included metal Ru sites and RuO x -Fe 3 O 4 Lewis acid sites, which account for the excellent catalytic activity of transfer hydrogenation.