Furfural hydrodeoxygenation on iron and platinum catalysts

Furfural can be converted into a wide range of high-octane products like 2-methylfuran (2-MF) through hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Iron-based catalyst (Fe/SiO2), has shown high selectivity for gas phase conversion of furfural to 2-MF at atmospheric pressure and 573 K. However, it showed rapid deactivation. Furfural is the main coke precursor, although coke is also formed when 2-MF and furan are used as reactants, but in lower quantities. Coke profiles along the catalytic bed suggest that tetra-hydrofuran is an important coke precursor. The addition of a second metal like platinum, even in very low proportions, generates hydrogen spillover leading to an important improvement in the stability of the catalyst. The Fe/Pt ratio on the surface regulates the amount of coke deposited because it modifies the iron particle sizes, the interaction with the support and the amount of hydrogen available for the reactions. These phenomena influence the reaction, coke formation and regeneration mechanisms.