Hydrogenation of Furfural on Pt- and Pd-Containing Catalysts in an Aqueous Medium

Pt- and Pd-containing catalysts based on the mesoporous aluminosilicate Al–HMS (Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica) with the Si/Al ratio of 10 were synthesized. The catalysts were tested in furfural hydrogenation in an aqueous medium at a hydrogen pressure of 1–5 MPa in the temperature interval 100–200°С. At 100°C, furfural transformed mainly into furfuryl alcohol, and at 200°С, into cyclopentanone (3 MPa of Н₂, 1 h). In the presence of the Pd/Al–HMS catalyst, the conversion and selectivity of formation of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol increased with an increase in the initial hydrogen pressure or in the catalyst concentration (100°С, 1 h). Pd/Al–HMS is more active in furfural hydrogenation in an aqueous medium: With this catalyst, virtually complete furfural conversion was reached in the temperature interval 150–200°С, whereas with Pt/Al–HMS the conversion did not exceed 23% (3 MPa of Н₂, 1 h).