A High-Throughput Composite Catalyst based on Nickel Carbon Cubes for the Hydrogenation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Dimethylfuran

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/cctc.201700506

A high-throughput composite catalyst is prepared from porous carbon with an unconventional nanocube morphology decorated with nickel nanoparticles. Owing to the advantageous properties of the designed carbon support, the composite combines a high surface area and a hierarchical pore structure with high functionality. Furthermore, the regularly shaped nanocubes allow for a good packing of a fixed-bed flow reactor, in which the internal transport pores cannot be blocked and stay open for efficient column performance. The composite is employed as a catalyst in the hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), showing good catalytic performance and overcoming the conventional problem of column blocking.