The synthesis of Ni-Co@NOMC and the regulation of its active sites for the selective conversion of furfural to cyclopentanone

Catalysts play a critical role in the selective conversion of furfural (FAL) in the aqueous-phase hydrogenation-rearrangement tandem reaction (AP-HRT). Herein, the N-doped bimetallic Ni-Co@NOMC was synthesized by solvent volatilization self-assembly method. The morphology and structure of the APF precursors were effectively controlled through adjustments in the synthesis and the presence of numerous pore channels and the substantial specific surface areas contributed to enhancing catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, this study also examined the synergistic interaction between the acid-base sites of the novel mesoporous N-doped carbon (NOMC) carrier and metal active sites to advance the succession of the furan ring hydrogenation and rearrangement processes. Specifically, the 99.9 % conversion of 8 wt% FAL solution was successfully accomplished with the 90.5 % selectivity of cyclopentanone catalyzed by 1.2-Ni-Co@NOMC catalysts. Therefore, this research holds significant importance for advancing the sustainable utilization of biomass resources in the future.