Transition Metal-based Bimetallic Catalysts for the Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Furfuraldehyde

In this work, the liquid-phase chemoselective hydrogenation of furfural was studied, employing Pt, Rh and Ni-based catalysts. Bimetallic systems, containing different amounts of tin, were obtained by means of controlled surface reactions between a monometallic catalyst and Sn(C4H9)(4). The results obtained when monometallic catalysts were employed suggest a relationship between metal properties and the activity and selectivity obtained. All systems allowed obtaining furfuryl alcohol with high selectivity (99, 97 and 76% were achieved with Pt, Rh and Ni catalysts, respectively). The addition of tin has different effects on the three systems, both in terms of conversion and selectivity. An interesting result was obtained for the Ni-based catalysts, for which the addition of tin led to a significant increase in furfuryl alcohol selectivity and, depending on the Sn/Ni ratio, also to an increase in the catalytic activity of the system.