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The chemo-selective hydrogenolysis of secondary hydroxyls is an important reaction for the production of biomass-derived α,ω-diols. This is the case for 1,3-propanediol production from glycerol. Supported Pt-WOx materials are effective catalysts for this transformation, and their activity is often related to the tungsten surface density and Brönsted acidity, although there are discrepancies in this regard. In this work, a series of Pt-WOx/γ-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by modifying the pH of the solutions used in the active metal impregnation step. The activity–structure relationships, together with the results from the addition of in situ titrants, i.e., 2,6-di-tert-butyl-pyridine or pyridine, helped in elucidating the nature of the bifunctional active sites for the selective production of 1,3-propanediol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we present a high yield 2-methylfuran production process with the required features to be implemented in a future integrated biorefinery. The strategy is based on the right solvent selection, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, which i) can be used to extract the reactant, furfural, from the aqueous solution obtained after corncob biomass hydrolysis; ii) allows for highly selective 2-methylfuran production form furfural with up to 80% yields and iii) presents suitable biofuel properties in the gasoline range. Using this innovative approach, two energy intensive separation steps are avoided: the initial furfural purification and the final solvent/product complete separation. Further benefits of this process arise from the developed low-cost, selective, and reusable Cu-Co/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]