Highly Selective and Efficient Rearrangement of Biomass-Derived Furfural to Cyclopentanone over Interface-Active Ru/Carbon Nanotubes Catalyst in Water

Biomass-derived furfural was efficiently converted to valuable cyclopentanone over interface-active Ru/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) catalyst in water. The effect of reaction conditions, including furfural concentration, reaction temperature, hydrogen pressure, speed of stirring, and reaction time on the catalytic performance of Ru/CNTs has been studied in detail. The furfural conversion of 99% and cyclopentanone selectivity of 91% were efficiently achieved at very low concentration of Ru/CNTs catalyst (0.26 wt % Ru) under mild reaction conditions (1 MPa H2, 160 °C, 500 rpm). Possible reaction pathways of furfural transformation over Ru/CNTs nanoparticles in water are proposed.