Citric acid-assisted synthesis of nanoparticle copper catalyst supported on an oxide system for the reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol in the vapor phase

Venkatesha, N. J. [Bangalore Institute of Technology] Sreerangappa, Ramesh [UCL]

The simplest method of synthesizing metallic Cu (111) nanoparticles on the zinc-aluminum mixed oxides was found to be easily obtained by solid state grinding of all the three metal nitrates and organic compounds in suitable proportions. Organic compounds such as citric acid, formic acid, and hydrazine were used, which act as reducing agents for Cu. The catalysts were characterized by various physicochemical methods such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, temperature programmed reduction, high-resolution transmission electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and N2-physisorption. The use of citric acid resulted in Cu(111) nanoparticles with higher surface area and better dispersion on the surface of mixed oxides. The catalysts were used for the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol under vapor phase conditions. Among the various catalysts studied, citric acid-assisted catalysis showed better conversion with higher selectivity of desired product and deactivation free catalytic activity on stream more than 30 h.