Synthesis of a Pt3Sn catalyst using a solvothermal method assisted by deep eutectic solvents for selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

Abstract

The selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived feedstock into high-value-added chemicals is widely recognized as one of the most significant challenges in biomass upgrading due to the complexity of functional groups. In this study, we have developed a solvothermal method using a deep eutectic solvent to synthesize a highly efficient intermetallic compound (IMC) Pt₃Sn (PtSn_0.5/CNTs-100) catalyst under mild conditions for the selective hydrogenation of furfural (FAL) to furfuryl alcohol (FOL). Compared to metallic Pt catalysts, the PtSn_0.5/CNTs-100 catalyst exhibited superior catalytic performance, resulting in a FOL yield of over 99%. Characterization and reaction results demonstrated that this exceptional performance was attributed to the synergistic catalytic effect of Pt₃Sn and SnO_x. Furthermore, we investigated the stability of PtSn_0.5/CNTs-100 and observed a slight deactivation attributed to the growth of Pt₃Sn and the deposition of carbonaceous species on the Pt₃Sn IMC catalyst. These findings highlight a new approach to the rational design of high-performance catalysts for sustainable chemical production.