MoO _x Nanoclusters Supported on Carbon as the Catalyst for Valorisation of Furfural to Isopropyl Furfuryl Ether and Isopropyl Levulinate

There is an increasing demand for catalysts to produce chemicals, chemical intermediates and fuels from biomass and biomass‐derived platform molecules. In this context, hydrogenation of biomass‐derived furans is a key route for producing chemicals and fuel. In this study, MoO _x nanoclusters embedded on carbon were synthesised via a hydrothermal method using the naturally abundant carbohydrate, glucose, as the carbon source. The glucose‐derived hydrochar is enriched with oxygen‐containing functional groups and can anchor the loaded metal ions. After a thorough physicochemical characterisation, the prepared catalysts were tested in the transfer hydrogenation of furfural, a biomass platform molecule. The reaction parameters, such as reaction temperature, time, catalyst loading and catalyst heat‐treatment temperature during preparation, were optimised to achieve better carbon balance, optimal conversion and yields. Under the optimised conditions, GM‐20‐300 was found to be the better catalyst, yielding 4% furfuryl alcohol, 28% isopropyl furfuryl ether and 11% isopropyl levulinate with 52% conversion of furfural and 91% carbon balance. The catalyst heat‐treated at 500°C (GM‐20–500) yields only furfuryl alcohol and isopropyl furfuryl ether, and no isopropyl levulinate. The characterisation results indicated that catalyst heat treatment at 500°C reduces the functionalities associated with Lewis and Brønsted acid sites and, in turn, impacts catalytic activity.