Paper Review

Efficient and versatile CuNi alloy nanocatalysts for the highly selective
hydrogenation of furfural

The non-noble bimetallic nanocatalysts are highly desirable and attractive for upgrading
biomass-derived platform compounds into high-valued chemicals. For the selective
hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) and furfuryl alcohol (FOL), a
series of highly dispersed and versatile CuxNiy (x/y = 7:1, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, 1:7) alloy supported
nanocatalysts derived from layer double hydroxides (LDHs) precursors were fabricated and used.
In the previous work, much effort has been expended to develop efficient non-precious metal
catalysts, such as Ni, which is highly active for the total hydrogenation of furfural to THFA.
However, the leaching of monometallic Ni catalyst results in its poor reusability during the liquid
phase hydrogenation reactions. Thus, it will be more economical and attractive to develop
efficient, stable and environmentally benign non-noble bimetallic nanocatalysts for the
hydrogenative conversion of furfural to THFA. Based on systematic characterization, it was
found that the reduction temperature of catalyst precursors was closely related to the dispersion
and homogeneity of CuNi alloy nanoparticles, as well as the surface basicity of catalysts, which
were crucial to achieving excellent catalytic performance. Besides, compared to the
monometallic Ni catalyst and the CuNi supported catalyst prepared with other methods, the
optimized CuNi/MgAlO and Cu1Ni3/MgAlO nanocatalysts showed high activity and selectivity
for hydrogenation of furfural into THFA in ethanol. A synergistic effect within CuNi alloy
nanoparticles has been found to enable such enhanced catalytic performance. Based on this
research, it can be concluded that, the chemical composition, the preparation method and
especially the reduction temperature of the LDHs precursors strongly influenced the properties of
the resulting CuxNiy/MgAlO catalysts. These efficient and versatile CuNi alloy nanocatalysts
are indeed effective but further research need to be done for upgrading biomass-derived furfural.

Reference:

Wu, J., Gao, G., Li, J., Sun, P., Long, X., & Li, F. (2017). Efficient and versatile CuNi alloy
nanocatalysts for the highly selective hydrogenation of furfural. Applied Catalysis B:
Environmental, 203, 227-236.