Synthesis of alumina-carbon composite material for the catalytic conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

Alumina-carbon composite catalysts (Al2O3-S) were synthesized by reacting Al(NO3)(3 center dot)9H(2)O and the polyether-based surfactant. With an increasing surfactant amount, the resulting Al2O3-S had an increased carbon content, surface area and acidic/basic sites concentration. Transfer hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol using the catalyst revealed that Al2O3-S(7), which had the highest carbon content, had the highest catalytic activity: furfuryl alcohol yield of 95.8% at 130 C-omicron for 6 h. During reuse of the catalyst, gradual deactivation of the catalytic activity was found. The main reason of the deactivation was found to the decreased aluminum content by leaching during the reaction. (C) 2017 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.