Total hydrogenation of furan derivatives over silica-supported Ni–Pd alloy catalyst

The Ni–Pd bimetallic catalysts supported on silica were prepared by co-impregnation method. The catalyst with Ni/Pd = 7 showed the best catalytic performance for the hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF). The catalyst was more active than commercial Raney Ni and more selective than Pd/C. The yield of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran reached 96%. Hydrogenation of other furanic compounds, cyclohexanone, phenol, and alkenols also proceeded. Characterizations by TEM and XRD revealed that Ni–Pd alloy particles were formed on Ni–Pd/SiO2 (Ni/Pd = 7).