Preparation of Highly Active Cu/SiO2 Catalysts for Furfural to 2-Methylfuran by Ammonia Evaporation Method

Biomass plays an important role in the green manufacture of high value-added chemicals. Among them, conversion furfural (FFA) into 2-methylfuran (2-MF), catalyzed by a copper-chromium catalyst, is its industrial application. However, use chromium limited due to toxicity and pollution environment. In this paper, Cu/SiO2 prepared ammonia evaporation method, shows better catalytic performance compared with that co-precipitation method for vapor-phase hydrodeoxygenation FFA. The selectivity 2-MF higher than 80% almost complete Combined characterizations, superiority attributed reduction highly dispersed copper species increased Cu+/(Cu+ + Cu0) ratio formation large content phyllosilicate during preparation. Moreover, Cu+ sites can act as weak acid site, which improve surface acidity catalyst facilitate 2-MF. This new system provides feasible promising strategy preparation from FFA, effectively utilizes biomass resources promote development industry.