Structure sensitivity of palladium nanocrysal catalysts in hydrogenation of biomass-derived furanic compounds

Abstract

Shape-controlled palladium nanocrystals were loaded onto mesoporous silica SBA15 and studied in the hydrogenation of furfural and 5-HMF. Physio-chemical characterizations of the catalysts were conducted by nitrogen physisorption, ICP-MS, XPS, TPR, H2 chemisorption, TEM and FT-IR spectroscopy. Catalytic tests were implemented in Parr high pressure autoclave and in liquid phase with very mild condition. By comparing the selectivity of the reaction, it was determined that the cubic palladium nanocrystals have a preference to hydrogenate the aldehyde bond in these compounds, while octahedral palladium nanocrystals prefer C=C double bond hydrogenation on furan ring. FT-IR results also support this observation.