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.
Subject(s)
Aluminum Oxide/chemistry , Furaldehyde/chemistry , Furans/chemistry , Maleic Anhydrides/chemistry , Vanadium Compounds/chemistry , Catalysis , Oxidation-Reduction , Substrate SpecificityABSTRACT
The catalytic activity of samples taken from an oxidation catalyst mounted on diesel-driven automobiles and aged under road conditions was recovered to a significant extent by washing with a dilute solution of citric acid. The characterization of samples arising from a fresh, a vehicle-aged, and a regenerated catalyst was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Relatively high levels of S and P, in the form of aluminum sulfate and phosphate, respectively, together with contaminant Si were detected in the used catalyst. Washing of the vehicle-aged catalytic oxidation converter revealed high efficiency in the extraction of the main contaminants detected (S and P) by this nondestructive methodology. The results of the experiments reported here should encourage the development of a technology based on this reactivation procedure for the rejuvenation of the catalytic device mounted on diesel exhaust pipes.
