Mapping product distribution pathways in liquid-phase furfural hydrogenation: solvent, catalyst, temperature, and pressure effects
Abstract
The liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural proceeds through an intrinsically competitive network involving carbonyl reduction, hydrodeoxygenation, and ring hydrogenation pathways, rendering the selective formation of products highly sensitive to the reaction environment. In this work, a structured sustainability and selectivity framework was established by systematically decoupling the effects of catalyst identity, solvent environment, hydrogen pressure, and temperature under industrially relevant conditions. Solvent screening guided by CHEM21 criteria demonstrated that solvent greenness can be aligned with catalytic performance; γ-valerolactone simultaneously maximized carbon balance and favored productive hydrogenation pathways. Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyzed selective carbonyl hydrogenation, yielding furfuryl alcohol, while Ru/C exhibited a broader spectrum of reaction pathways, including sequential hydrogenation steps. The selectivity profiles were determined by hydrogen pressure and temperature, which controlled hydrogen availability and reaction kinetics. The choice of solvent influenced the effective available hydrogen in the liquid phase without a corresponding increase in operating pressure. Studies on catalyst reusability demonstrated that Ru/C deactivation is largely reversible and linked to carbonaceous deposition. Consequently, this research presents an integrated, process-oriented framework that connects solvent sustainability, carbon efficiency, and operational tuning for the selective upgrading of biomass-derived platform molecules
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BibTeX
@article{edumujeze2026mapping,
title = {{Mapping product distribution pathways in liquid-phase furfural hydrogenation: solvent, catalyst, temperature, and pressure effects}},
author = {Daniel Edumujeze and Christine Devouge-Boyer and Marie-Christine Fournier-Salaun and Sébastien Leveneur},
journal = {Reaction Chemistry \& Engineering},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1039/d6re00113k},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05781368v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mapping product distribution pathways in liquid-phase furfural hydrogenation: solvent, catalyst, temperature, and pressure effects
AU - Daniel Edumujeze
AU - Christine Devouge-Boyer
AU - Marie-Christine Fournier-Salaun
AU - Sébastien Leveneur
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - Reaction Chemistry & Engineering
DO - 10.1039/d6re00113k
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05781368v1
AB - The liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural proceeds through an intrinsically competitive network involving carbonyl reduction, hydrodeoxygenation, and ring hydrogenation pathways, rendering the selective formation of products highly sensitive to the reaction environment. In this work, a structured sustainability and selectivity framework was established by systematically decoupling the effects of catalyst identity, solvent environment, hydrogen pressure, and temperature under industrially relevant conditions. Solvent screening guided by CHEM21 criteria demonstrated that solvent greenness can be aligned with catalytic performance; γ-valerolactone simultaneously maximized carbon balance and favored productive hydrogenation pathways. Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyzed selective carbonyl hydrogenation, yielding furfuryl alcohol, while Ru/C exhibited a broader spectrum of reaction pathways, including sequential hydrogenation steps. The selectivity profiles were determined by hydrogen pressure and temperature, which controlled hydrogen availability and reaction kinetics. The choice of solvent influenced the effective available hydrogen in the liquid phase without a corresponding increase in operating pressure. Studies on catalyst reusability demonstrated that Ru/C deactivation is largely reversible and linked to carbonaceous deposition. Consequently, this research presents an integrated, process-oriented framework that connects solvent sustainability, carbon efficiency, and operational tuning for the selective upgrading of biomass-derived platform molecules
SN - 2058-9883
ER -