Insight into the Co2+/Co3+ sites for the selective reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

Furfuryl alcohol (FFA) is an important organic chemical for the chemical industry, however, an efficient chromium-free catalyst with high stability is still expected. Herein, a Co3AlOx catalyst was successfully prepared for the synthesis of FFA via the furfural (FF) hydrogenation, which exhibited excellent stability and catalytic activity with a FFA yield of 96.2 %. The Co2+ species significantly promoted the formation of the oxygen vacancy on the surface of Co3AlOx, which favored the adsorption and activation of H-2, The Co3+ species provided anchors for the adsorption of the aldehyde group in FF. The selective adsorption of FF via the O-terminal of the aldehyde group in a vertical or tilted configuration on the surface of Co3AlOx ensured the efficient hydrogenation of FF to FFA.

Automated summary

In this study, a highly stable chromium-free catalyst Co3AlOx was prepared for the synthesis of furfuryl alcohol. The catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and stability, enabling efficient hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol.