Catalytic Upgrading of Xylose to Furfuryl Alcohol over Zr-SBA-15

Direct conversion of xylose to furfuryl alcohol was investigated over Zr-SBA-15 mesoporous catalysts. A low-concentration aqueous xylose solution was used as feedstock to fit the conditions that the monosaccharide is released during waste biomass pretreatment for 2G ethanol production. A coupled dehydrationtransfer hydrogenation approach was adopted in this study, using 2-propanol as the hydrogen donor in the liquid phase. It was shown that addition of Zr into the SiO2 framework created active surface acid sites for converting xylose to furfuryl alcohol, rendering selectivity of around 45%, and furfural and xylulose as the main coproducts. Activity and product distribution were significantly affected by the proportion of water and 2-propanol in the liquid phase. Both xylose conversion and selectivity to furfuryl alcohol dropped progressively by decreasing the volumetric amount of 2-propanol.

Automated summary

The study found that Zr-SBA-15 mesoporous catalysts can effectively convert xylose to furfuryl alcohol, but the activity and product distribution are significantly affected by the ratio of water to 2-propanol in the liquid phase.