Efficient furfural hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol using a PtCo bimetallic catalyst in a fluidized electrocatalysis system

Abstract

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) proved to be a highly efficient and eco-friendly approach for transforming biomass derivatives into valuable chemicals and biofuels, although in most cases, the reaction time was lengthy. In this study, a carbon loaded Pt–Co bimetallic catalyst (PtCo/C) was prepared using a simple chemical reduction method. For the ECH of furfural (FF) to furfural alcohol (FAL), as a platform molecular reaction derived from biomass, the dual catalyst system composed of H₃O₄₀PW₁₂ (PW₁₂) showed excellent FF conversion rate (96.7% FF conversion rate achieved in 20 minutes) and FAL selectivity (93.1%). The PtCo/C catalyst was found to possess abundant hydrogen adsorption sites (H_ads), resulting in improved electrocatalytic hydrogenation and reduced electrocondensation during fluidization. Simultaneously, the occurrence of the hydrogen evolution reaction as an ancillary process was effectively inhibited at comparatively lower potentials. These discoveries offered significant groundwork and a point of reference for the catalyst advancement and the electrocatalytic conversion of biomass.