Preparation of Cu-MgO catalysts with different copper precursors and precipitating agents for the vapor-phase hydrogenation of furfural

This article presents the effects of three copper precursors and four precipitating agents on the catalytic performance of the corresponding co-precipitated Cu-MgO catalysts in the vapor-phase hydrogenation of furfural. The chemical and physical properties were analyzed by means of XRD, BET, SEM, and EDX techniques. The nitrate precursor provided the highest performance (conversion of similar to 89%). Whereas, the catalyst prepared with NaOH was the most efficient (furfuryl alcohol yield of > 90%) during 240 min; the most durable conversion (similar to 95%) was assured with Na2-CO3, and the highest selectivity to furfuryl alcohol (> 97%) was achieved with K2CO3 as the precipitating agent. The least efficient catalyst (prepared with ammonium carbonate) led to 5-methylfurfural and 2,2-methylenebisfuran as the main byproducts. The major byproducts over the rest of the catalysts included tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, furfuryl ether, 1-pentanol, and 2-methylfuran. An increasing trend of furfuryl alcohol selectivity with time-on-stream was evident for all of the catalysts.