Promotion effects of PrPO4 for the hydrogenation transformation of biomass-derived compounds over Pr–Ni–P composites

Abstract

To span the inherent application limitation of state-of-the-art catalysts for the chemical transformation of biomass derivatives, here, we formulate a series of Pr–Ni–P catalysts for the hydrogenation transformation of biomass-derived levulinic-acid, furfural and maleic anhydride. With comprehensive characterizations, Pr–Ni–P samples are verified as (PrPO₄)_m/Ni₂P nanocomposites with a molar ratio (m) in the range of 0.24–11.0. In comparison with the poor catalytic performance of Ni₂P, a ten-fold enhancement in TOF up to 0.45 s⁻¹ and at least five-time promotion on the yield of objective products up to 91–98% are achieved by introducing proper amounts of PrPO₄ to form reusable (PrPO₄)_m/Ni₂P nanocomposites. Surface chemistry and kinetic mechanism studies further disclose that the cooperative catalytic function of two components, in particular the exclusive capability of PrPO₄ to activate hydrogen, is responsible for the promoted hydrogenation transformation of biomass derivatives via a quick Langmuir–Hinshelwood process over (PrPO₄)_m/Ni₂P. These findings imply that an easily obtainable, cost-affordable and robust rare earth phosphate like present PrPO₄ could be a potential replacement catalytic component for the traditional metal catalyst in the hydrogenation transformation reactions of biomass derivatives, which was also worth noting as a new kind of basic material for other green mass-transformation techniques involving hydrogen activation processes such as corresponding optical and electrical transformations.