Biomass-derived furfural hydrogenation via copper-based magnesia-alumina layered double hydroxide-like material

Furfural is a vital platform chemical and a carcinogenic derivative; therefore, it must be utilized and converted into a value-added product. The vapor-phase hydrogenation of furfural to yield furfuryl alcohol is studied via a copper-based magnesia-alumina catalyst. Herein, we have investigated the synthesized catalysts by several spectroscopic and analytical techniques to determine the physiochemical properties of the developed materials. The reduction of catalyst at 523 K gave the most catalytically active sites for the effective hydrogenation of furfural wherein the varied ratio of copper on magnesia-alumina support showed higher selectivity towards the furfuryl alcohol. The temperature study depicted that the 25CMA catalyst performed best at 453 K with a yield of 64.5 %, but at higher temperatures, it gradually deactivates the catalyst. The catalyst showed stability of almost 30 h, and further, a gradual decrease in the activity was observed, which could be attributed to the coke formation and validated from the TGA and BET analysis. The plausible reaction mechanism was proposed based on H₂-TPR analysis, which suggested the formation of Cu⁰, which was a major factor in the conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. The long-term stability with sustained catalytic activity for the 25CMA catalyst paves the way for the catalyst's industrial applicability for the furfural hydrogenation to yield furfuryl alcohol.