Effects of TiO2 Support and Cobalt Addition of Ni/TiO2 Catalyst in Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol

An effect of phase compositions (rutile, Rut and anatase, Ant) of TiO 2 supports on the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol was investigated.The 15%wt Ni/TiO 2 catalysts were prepared by incipient impregnation method.The result showed that Ni supported on anatase-rutile mixed phase TiO 2 (91% Rut and 9% Ant, A2) provided the highest furfuryl alcohol yield at 43.8% due to the relatively strong Ni-TiO 2 interaction, its appropriate crystallite sizes, and high average pore sizes.Furthermore, the effect of cobalt as a promoter on Ni/ TiO 2 -A2 catalysts was studied.The result showed that the Ni-Co/TiO 2 -A2 catalysts exhibited poorer catalyst performances compared to the monometallic Ni/TiO 2 , probably because addition of cobalt can lower the reduction temperatures of Ni/TiO 2 and weaken the metal-support interaction.