Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol over Fe3O4 modified Ru/Carbon nanotubes catalysts

In this study, magnetic Fe3O4 modified Ru/Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) catalysts were used to achieve the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA), with alcohols as the solvent and hydrogen donors. According to the result of the catalyst characterization, Fe3O4 promoted the formation of Ru0 species. The effects of Fe3O4 loading and different hydrogen donors on the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of FF were tested, and the reaction parameters and catalyst stability were also analyzed. It is found that Fe3O4 effectively enhanced the activity of Ru/CNTs in catalytic transfer hydrogenation of FF, the catalytic activity was optimized at the Fe3O4 loading of 5 wt%, and the optimal hydrogen donor was i-propanol. Moreover, the Ru–Fe3O4/CNTs could be easily collected for further use and possessed excellent stability. The mechanism of the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of FF using Ru–Fe3O4/CNTs was discussed, and the corresponding catalyst activity groups included metal Ru sites and RuOx-Fe3O4 Lewis acid sites, which account for the excellent catalytic activity of transfer hydrogenation.