Cu nanoparticles supported on core–shell MgO-La₂O₃ catalyzed hydrogenolysis of furfuryl alcohol to pentanediol

Selective ring-opening hydrogenolysis of the furan ring is the key to the efficient conversion of furfuryl alcohol (FFA) to high-value pentanediol. In this work, highly dispersed Cu@MgO-La₂O₃ was designed and synthesized with a core–shell structure, and bifunctional metal and alkaline sites for the direct hydrolysis of FFA (94.9% conversion) to 1,2-pentanediol (1,2-PeD, with 67.1% selectivity) and 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeD, with 18.8% selectivity). Multiple characterization results indicated that at an Mg/La ratio of 1.9, the outer surface contained distributed La₂O₃-MgO species with uniformly dispersed Cu⁰ nanoparticles, and the inner layer of the catalyst possessed MgO, while some Cu⁰ were distributed at the La₂O₃ and MgO interface. The addition of MgO increased the specific surface area of the outer layer, improving the dispersion of Cu and facilitating the formation of Cu⁰. In-situ FTIR experiments showed that FFA was adsorbed on the La₂O₃ alkaline site of the carrier through the O atoms of the furan ring and CH₂OH, which induced ring-opening to generate enol intermediates, which further hydrogenated to 1,2-PeD and 1,5-PeD over the Cu⁰ nanoparticles. Thus, this new core–shell structure combining with metal and alkaline sites provides new insight for developing effective and selective hydrogenolysis catalysts.