A non-noble bimetallic alloy in the highly selective electrochemical synthesis of the biofuel 2,5-dimethylfuran from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Abstract

The conversion of HMF to DMF has received great attention due to its potential as a gasoline alternative. Electrosynthesis is a powerful green tool due to its significant advantages and provides an efficient and environmentally friendly route. In this work, the process uses water as the hydrogen source in the electro-catalytic reduction of 5-hydromethylfurfural (HMF) for the synthesis of 2,5-dimethyl-furan (DMF). The performance of a non-noble CuNi bimetallic electrode was investigated in the electro-catalytic hydrogenation of HMF. The electrodes prepared were characterized using XRD, SEM, XPS, and BET techniques. 88.0% faradaic efficiency of DMF and 91.1% conversion selectivity of DMF were achieved. The CuNi bimetallic electrode also displayed a good stability during the reduction of HMF to DMF.