Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Ru nanoparticles supported on CeO2−Mg(OH)2 composite nanosheets exhibit high activity and selectivity for furfural hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol. • The composite support enhances catalyst stability by preventing Ru leaching, retaining high activity after six cycles. • Strong metal–support interaction tunes the electronic structure of Ru, facilitating H2 activation. • The CeO2−Mg(OH)2 interface promotes selective adsorption of C=O bonds, improving selectivity.
Abstract
Ru nanoparticles (NPs) supported on CeO2−Mg(OH)2 composite nanosheets, donated as Ru/CeO2−Mg(OH)2, are developed as the highly active catalyst for selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. Characterization results demonstrate that Ru NPs are adsorbed on the surface of the polyhedra of CeO2, which are scattered on the surface of the thin Mg(OH)2 nanosheets. Ru/CeO2−Mg(OH)2-0.2 achieves 92.6% conversion of furfural and 96.3% selectivity to furfuryl alcohol. Ru/CeO2−Mg(OH)2-0.2 retains high activity after six cycles, due to the introduction of CeO2 to form composite support that effectively prevents the leaching of Ru NPs. The strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) between Ru NPs and the CeO2−Mg(OH)2 composite support can tune the electronic structure of Ru NPs, which facilitates the H2 activation. Moreover, the CeO2−Mg(OH)2 interface exhibits specific adsorption of C=O bonds compared to the CeO2 alone. The composite-supported nanoparticles provide a valuable strategy for constructing highly efficient hydrogenation catalysts.
1. Introduction
The conversion of biomass-derived compounds into a variety of fine chemicals and high-value fuels has received increasing attention [1−3]. Furfural, as one of the biomass platform molecules, is considered an ideal candidate for upgrading into high-value chemicals and high-energy-density liquid fuel [4,5]. For example, furfuryl alcohol, produced via the catalytic hydrogenation of furfural, is extensively used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pesticides, dyes, heat-resistant resins, and synthetic fibers [6,7]. Therefore, the hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol is of high economic value and social significance.
In general, the electronic characteristics and geometric structure of the supported metal nanoparticles can greatly influence the catalytic activity and selectivity of furfural to furfuryl alcohol [8,9]. Firstly, the electronic structure of supported metal nanoparticles can directly affect the substrate activation [10,11]. Then, the effective strategy to improve the selectivity of furfural to furfuryl alcohol changes the adsorption mode of furfural, which increases the strong adsorption of C=O rather than the C=C of furan ring [12]. Nevertheless, the supported metal nanoparticle catalysts, such as Pd, Pt, Ru and Cu, are more favorable for the hydrogenation of C=C than C=O because of the thermodynamics and adsorption modes, resulting in the over-hydrogenation of furfural [13−15]. Therefore, abundant strategies have been developed to tune the electronic characteristics and geometric structure of the supported metal nanoparticles [16,17]. It is reported that the electronic characteristics of supported metal nanoparticles can be greatly influenced by the metal−support interaction. Moreover, the interface between the metal nanoparticles and the supports can modulate the furfural adsorption model, which improves the selectivity of furfuryl alcohol. Modulating the electronic characteristics and geometric structure by metal−support interaction can not only increase the activity but also improve the selectivity of the specific products during the hydrogenation process [18,19]. For example, LIU et al [20] reported novel and effective WO3−x/rGO composite-supported Pd catalyst.
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Xiao-jun ZHAO, Li-qiang WANG, Guang-ji ZHANG, Yin FANG, You-nian LIU, Tie-chui YUAN (2025). Enhanced furfural hydrogenation via Ru nanoparticles supported on CeO2−Mg(OH)2 composite nanosheet. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(25)67029-4
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main achievement of the Ru/CeO2−Mg(OH)2 catalyst?
The Ru/CeO2−Mg(OH)2 catalyst achieves 92.6% conversion of furfural and 96.3% selectivity to furfuryl alcohol, with high stability over six cycles.
How does the CeO2−Mg(OH)2 composite support improve catalytic performance?
The composite support enhances the strong metal–support interaction, which tunes the electronic structure of Ru nanoparticles, facilitating H2 activation and promoting selective adsorption of C=O bonds, thereby improving activity and selectivity.
Why is the hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol important?
Furfuryl alcohol is a valuable intermediate used in the synthesis of pesticides, dyes, heat-resistant resins, and synthetic fibers, making its production economically and socially significant.
What is the role of CeO2 in the catalyst?
CeO2 forms a composite support with Mg(OH)2, which prevents the leaching of Ru nanoparticles and provides an interface that specifically adsorbs C=O bonds, enhancing selectivity.
What is the significance of the strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) in this study?
SMSI tunes the electronic structure of Ru nanoparticles, which facilitates H2 activation and improves the catalytic performance for furfural hydrogenation.
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