Green Synthesis of Pd–Fe Catalyst Supported on ɣ-Al2O3 Using Gobernadora Extract (Larrea tridentata) for the Hydrogenation of 2-Methylfuran to Biorefinery Products

• Published in: Topics in catalysis Vol. 65; no. 13-16; pp. 1244 - 1250
• Main Authors: González-Casamachin, Diego Alexander, Rivera De la Rosa, Javier, Lucio-Ortiz, Carlos J., Elizondo Villareal, Nora, Verastegui Domínguez, Luz Hypatia, Bustos Martínez, Diana, Sandoval Rangel, Ladislao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Bimetals; Catalysis; Catalysts; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chlorogenic acid; Ferulic acid; Furfural; Hydrogenation; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Original Paper; Pharmacy; Physical Chemistry; Reducing agents; Selectivity; Nanoparticles; 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran; Pd–Fe/Al; 2-Methylfuran; O
• ISSN: 1022-5528; 1572-9028
• DOI: 10.1007/s11244-022-01660-z

In the present work, a Pd–Fe bimetallic catalyst supported on gamma alumina was obtained by green synthesis, using gobernadora extract (
Larrea tridentata
) from the northwestern region of Mexico as a reducing agent. The bimetallic catalyst was used in the hydrogenation of 2-methylfuran, a molecule from biomass derivatives such as furfural, to obtain chemical products with high added value. Through HPLC analysis of the gobernadora extract, reducing agents (antioxidants) were identified, such as: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid. Conversions of up to 41% of 2-MF were achieved at 270 °C reaction temperature with a maximum selectivity towards 2-MTHF of 58%. Consequently, it was found that the 3:1 Pd–Fe molar ratio in the catalyst favors the formation of the bimetallic alloy Pd–Fe, which in turn enhances the obtention of value-added chemicals such as 2-MTHF.