The Effect of Support on Catalytic Performance of Ni-Doped Mo Carbide Catalysts in 2-Methylfuran Production

Ni-doped Mo carbide with Ni/Mo atomic ratio of 0.1 was supported on SiO2, Al2O3, and a porous carbon material (C), using a combination of gel combustion and impregnation methods. XRD, XPS, XANES, and EXAFS analyses indicated that the main active sites for the supported catalysts were metallic nickel and Mo carbides. The catalysts were evaluated in furfural hydrogenation to produce 2-methylfuran (2-MF) in a batch reactor at 150 degrees C under a hydrogen pressure of 6.0 MPa. The carbide materials supported on C showed the highest activity and selectivity towards 2-MF formation, with a yield of 61 mol.% after 3.5 h. Using furfuryl alcohol as the feedstock instead of furfural resulted in a high selectivity to 2-MF production. The carbon-supported sample was tested in a fixed-bed reactor at 160-260 degrees C with a pressure of 5.0 MPa in the hydrogenation of furfuryl alcohol, leading to the formation of up to 82 mol.% of 2-MF at 160-200 degrees C. The higher temperature (260 degrees C) resulted in the formation of C5 alcohols and hydrocarbons, while the hydrogenation of furfural at the same temperature led to 100 mol.% conversion, and up to an 86 mol.% yield of 2-MF.