Catalytic hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol using competitive nickel catalysts supported on mesoporous clays

© 2020 Elsevier B.V. Nickel catalysts supported on mesoporous clays with different acid properties, such as montmorillonite MK-10, Al-pillared montmorillonite, mesoporous Na-saponite and mesoporous H-saponite, were prepared, characterized and tested for the hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA). Clays were also modified introducing basicity through magnesium oxide in different amounts. Catalysts with higher acidity or low amounts of metallic centres favoured deactivation and/or selectivity to the non-desired products. Interestingly, the addition of MgO both neutralized the acidity of the montmorillonite supports and improved the hydrogenation of the furanic ring, resulting in higher selectivity to THFA. The best catalyst was the one prepared with montmorillonite MK-10 covered by 30 wt% of magnesium oxide and with 8.8 % of the Ni metal phase achieving total conversion and total selectivity to THFA. The activity of this catalyst was maintained after several reuses.