Construction of novel Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 composites for furfural hydrogenation: The role of Al components

Novel Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 composites had been constructed and applied in furfural hydrogenation to produce furfuryl alcohol in a fixed-bed reactor. As the result, conversion of FFA over Cu/ZnO catalyst (within 16-24 h TOS) could be improved from 84.9% to 98.0% at 120 degrees C and 51.4% to 72.1% at 100 degrees C with a high selectivity of FOL (approximate to 98%) over the novelly constructed Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 catalyst. The role of Al components derived from different precursors like Al(NO3)(3) , as-prepared Al(OH)(3) and pseudo-boehmite had been systemically investigated by various techniques such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, H-2-TPR, N2O titration, XPS, AES experiments and confirmed to be both improving dispersion of copper/zinc species and hindering Cu-ZnO interaction of the aur-ichalcite derived catalysts. Preparation of the industrial Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts had been revealed and explained more clearly.