Issue 18, 2017

Exploiting H-transfer as a tool for the catalytic reduction of bio-based building blocks: the gas-phase production of 2-methylfurfural using a FeVO4 catalyst

Abstract

Over the past decade, a great deal of effort has been devoted to developing reductive processes in the field of biomass valorisation for the sustainable production of bio-fuel additives and chemicals. Catalytic transfer hydrogenation, which uses alcohol as the hydrogen source, is an interesting approach that avoids the use of both high H2 pressure and precious metal catalysts. In this work, the vapour-phase production of 2-methylfuran from biomass-derived furfural (FU), using methanol as the H-transfer agent and FeVO4 catalyst, was studied. At a temperature of 320 °C it was possible to achieve 80% yield of 2-methylfuran, with small amounts of 2,5-dimethylfuran and 2-vinylfuran as by-products. Catalyst characterization highlighted that FeVO4 reduction took place under the studied conditions, leading to the in situ development of a true active phase. The study of the reaction network permitted us to infer on the relative contribution of H-transfer and hydrogenation, the latter from the in situ generated formaldehyde and H2, to 2-methylfuran, formation. The reported results indicate the potential application of H-transfer with FeVO4 catalysts as an efficient process for the selective de-oxygenation of biomass-derived molecules.

Graphical abstract: Exploiting H-transfer as a tool for the catalytic reduction of bio-based building blocks: the gas-phase production of 2-methylfurfural using a FeVO4 catalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Чер 2017
Accepted
09 Сер 2017
First published
09 Сер 2017

Green Chem., 2017,19, 4412-4422

Exploiting H-transfer as a tool for the catalytic reduction of bio-based building blocks: the gas-phase production of 2-methylfurfural using a FeVO4 catalyst

L. Grazia, D. Bonincontro, A. Lolli, T. Tabanelli, C. Lucarelli, S. Albonetti and F. Cavani, Green Chem., 2017, 19, 4412 DOI: 10.1039/C7GC01749A

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