Abstract:
The effect of nickel precursors and the temperature annealing to obtain intermetallic Ni3Sn2 alloy catalysts on its
activity and selectivity in the selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural (FFald) were investigated. Two
types of nickel precursors (c.a., i) nickel metal (Ni°) derived from Raney®nickel and ii) nickel ion (Ni2+) derived
from nickel chloride) were employed as the starting materials via hydrothermal at 423 K for 24 h followed by reduction with H2 at the elevated temperature of 573-873 K for 1.5 h. The physico-chemical properties of the intermetallic Ni3Sn2 were characterized by XRD, N2-, and H2-adsorption, ICP-AES, and NH3-TPD. The intermetallic
Ni3Sn2 alloy catalysts, both bulk and supported, demonstrated high activity and selectivity towards hydrogenation
of FFald. The activity and selectivity of -Al2O3 and AA-supported Ni3Sn2 alloy catalysts in the hydrogenation of
FFald to furfuryl alcohol (FFalc) were maintained even after annealing at up to 873 K, but that of bulk Ni3Sn2
drastically dropped. Ni-Sn alloy catalysts which were obtained from Raney®Ni precursor showed more stable than
that of nickel salts during hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. Keywords: intermetallic Ni3Sn2; bulk & supported Ni3Sn2; selective hydrogenation; furfural; furfuryl alcohol
