Effects of TiO(2) structure and Co addition as a second metal on Ru-based catalysts supported on TiO(2) for selective hydrogenation of furfural to FA

The TiO(2) supported Ru-based catalysts were prepared with 1.5 wt% Ru and 0–0.8 wt% Co on various TiO(2) (anatase, rutile, P-25, and sol–gel TiO(2)) and studied in the liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FA) under mild conditions (50 °C and 2 MPa H(2)). The presence of high anatase crystallographic composition on TiO(2) support was favorable for enhancing hydrogenation activity, while the strong interaction between Ru and TiO(2) (Ru–TiO(x) sites) was required for promoting the selectivity to FA. The catalytic performances of bimetallic Ru–Co catalysts were improved with increasing Co loading due to the synergistic effect of Ru–Co alloying system together with the strong interaction between Ru and Co as revealed by XPS, H(2)-TPR, and TEM–EDX results. The enhancement of reducibility of Co oxides in the bimetallic Ru–Co catalysts led to higher hydrogenation activity with the Ru–0.6Co/TiO(2) catalyst exhibited the best performances in FA selective hydrogenation of furfural to FA under the reaction conditions used.