A hierarchical Ru-bearing alumina/magnetic iron-oxide composite for the magnetically heated hydrogenation of furfural

Ruthenium catalyzed and magnetically heated hydrogenation of furfural in a slurry-type reactor is demonstrated in this work. We have developed a catalyst composed of magnetic nanoparticles which contains alumina carrying Ru nanoparticles on its surface. When exposed to an AC magnetic field, the conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol over the catalyst in the same time interval reached 95%, but only 63% when conventional heating was applied.