Carbon Shell-Encapsulated La–Ni Composite Catalyst for Hydrogenolysis of Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol to 1,5-Pentanediol

Abstract

Catalytic hydrogenolysis of lignocellulose-derived furanic molecules to access high-value 1,5-pentanediol has recently emerged as a prominent research focus in the field of biomass upgrading chemistry. Yet, due to the stubbornness of the furan ring and the copresence of multiple functional groups, achieving a high yield of 1,5-pentanediol remains a challenging task. To address this issue, herein we constructed a carbon shell-encapsulated La-promoted Ni composite catalyst (La–Ni@C) for 1,5-pentanediol production via hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFOL). La–Ni@C was prepared via vacuum-assisted impregnation of preformed Ni@C with La precursors and subsequent solvent-thermal treatment. At 180 °C and 3 MPa, the resulting La–Ni@C catalyst demonstrated both high 1,5-PDO selectivity (95%) and exceptional productivity of 4.96 mmol_1,5-PDO ${\mathrm{g}}_{\mathrm{Catal.}}^{-1}$ h^–1. Furthermore, La–Ni@C maintained its high activity after five consecutive repeated uses. Controlled experiments and structural characterization uncovered that the carbon shell encapsulation not only effectively mitigated the Ni–La species’s leaching and sintering but also promoted the intimate synergy between the Ni and La components, leading to enhanced hydrogenolysis activity and stability.