At present, furfural has achieved industrial application, therefore, it is very important to enhance the utilization value of furfural through downstream conversion and utilization. 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeD) is an important pharmaceutical intermediate with broad application prospects in various fields such as plasticizers, cosmetics, and synthetic fragrances. However, the efficient catalytic ring opening hydrogenolysis of furfural to prepare 1,5-pentanediol is a complex chemical process that involves multiple aspects such as catalyst design and reaction condition optimization.

The key steps and points are as follows:

1. Reaction mechanism

The main steps for preparing 1,5-pentanediol by ring opening hydrogenation of furfural include:

Hydrogenation: Furfural is first hydrogenated to produce furfuryl alcohol.

Ring opening: Furfuryl alcohol undergoes ring opening under the action of a catalyst, resulting in the formation of an intermediate.

Further hydrogenation: The intermediate continues to be hydrogenated, ultimately producing 1,5-pentanediol.

2. Catalyst selection

The selection of catalysts is crucial for reaction efficiency and selectivity, and commonly used catalysts include:

Precious metal catalysts, such as Pt, Pd, Ru, etc., have high activity and selectivity, but are costly.

Non precious metal catalysts, such as Ni, Co, Cu, etc., have lower costs but may not be as active and selective as precious metals.

Bimetallic catalysts: Combining precious and non precious metals to balance activity and cost.

3. Optimization of reaction conditions

The reaction conditions have a significant impact on product selectivity and yield, with key parameters including:

Temperature: usually between 100-200 ° C, too high may cause side reactions.

Pressure: Hydrogen pressure is generally between 1-10 MPa, and high pressure is beneficial for hydrogenation reactions.

Solvent: Common solvents include water, ethanol, etc. Choosing a suitable solvent can improve reaction efficiency.

Reaction time: It needs to be optimized to avoid excessive hydrogenation or side reactions.

4. Catalyst carrier

The carrier affects the dispersibility and stability of the catalyst. Common carriers include:

Oxide carriers: such as Al ? O3, SiO ?, TiO ?, etc.

Carbon materials: such as activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, etc.

Molecular sieves, such as ZSM-5 and Beta, have specific pore structures that can enhance selectivity.

5. Reactor design

Reactor design affects mass and heat transfer efficiency, and commonly used types include:

Fixed bed reactor: simple structure, suitable for continuous production.

Slurry bed reactor: suitable for high viscosity reaction systems.

Microreactor: High mass and heat transfer efficiency, suitable for laboratory research.

6. Product separation and purification

After the reaction, 1,5-pentanediol needs to be separated and purified. Common methods include:

Distillation: Separation using boiling point differences.

Extraction: Use appropriate solvents to extract the target product.

Crystallization: Improve purity through crystallization.

7. Challenges and Prospects

Catalyst stability: It is necessary to improve the stability and lifespan of the catalyst.

Selective control: Conditions need to be optimized to improve the selectivity of 1,5-pentanediol.

Green chemistry: Developing more environmentally friendly processes to reduce waste and energy consumption.