title: Selective conversion of furfural to maleic anhydride and furan with VO(x)/Al(2)O(3) catalysts.
abstract: Furfural can be converted into maleic anhydride (73 % yield) through selective gas phase oxidation at 593 K with O(2) by using VO(x)/Al(2)O(3) (10 at(V) nm(-2)) as solid catalysts. The use of lower temperatures and/or O(2) pressures result in the additional formation of furan (maximum 9 % yield). Mechanistically, furfural (C(5)H(4)O(2)) is oxidized stepwise to furan (C(4)H(4)O), 2-furanone (C(4)H(4)O(2)), and finally, maleic anhydride (C(4)H(2)O(3)). The specific structure of the supported vanadium oxides and reaction conditions (temperature and reactants pressures) all influence furfural oxidation catalysis. We have found that Al(2)O(3)-supported polyvanadates are intrinsically more active (2.70 mmol h(-1) g-at V(-1)) than monovanadates (VO(4)) and V(2)O(5) crystals (0.89 and 0.70 mmol h(-1) g-at V(-1), respectively) in maleic anhydride and furan formation rates (553 K, 1.6 kPa furfural, 2.5 kPa O(2)). Our alternative approach enables the use of biomass instead of petroleum to synthesize maleic anhydride and furan from furfural. The potential variety of industrial applications is of enormous interest for the development of future biorefineries.
authors: Group of Sustainable Energy and Chemistry, Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry (CSIC), C/Marie Curie 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Noelia
authors: N
authors: Alonso-Fagúndez
authors: Manuel López
authors: ML
authors: Granados
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Mariscal
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Ojeda
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry*; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry*; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D017968:Vanadium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides; D017968:Vanadium Compounds; D005662:Furaldehyde; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C039281:furan