Furfural Hydrogenation in the Presence of Ru and Pd Catalysts Immobilized on Hybrid Materials Based on Mesoporous Phenol–Formaldehyde Polymers and Silica

Abstract

Catalysts based on Ru and Pd nanoparticles on mesoporous hybrid supports consisting of mesoporous phenol–formaldehyde polymers and silica were synthesized. The catalysts were tested in furfural hydrogenation at 150–250°С and hydrogen pressure of 3 MPa. In furfural hydrogenation in the presence of the Pd catalyst, the yield of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol was 99% when performing the reaction in ethanol, whereas the Ru catalyst showed high selectivity with respect to cyclopentanone (80%) in furfural hydrogenation in water. The hybrid catalysts exhibit higher activity than the polymer analogs.