Gas-phase hydrogenation of furfural into value-added chemicals: The critical role of metal-based catalysts

Furfural (FF: aldehyde derivable from lignocellulosic biomass) has been widely recognized as a versatile building block for eco-friendly and sustainable applications to reduce industrial reliance on fossil-fuel carbon sources. Hydrogenation of FF, in particular, is recognized as one of the most effective routes for producing various value-added chemicals (e.g., furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran). The gas-phase FF hydrogenation reaction offers economic and environmental advantages over its liquid-phase counterpart in conversion efficiency, product selectivity, and kinetics. The operation of the former does not require high hydrogen pressures or hazardous solvents while not generating undesirable by-products (due to reduced selectivity toward the ring-opening reaction). In this context, the utility of noble and non-noble metal catalyst systems has been recognized for their potential to induce effective FF hydrogenation in the gas phase. The present review addresses current understandings and recent developments in research on gas-phase FF hydrogenation and the factors governing the performance of metal-based catalysts (e.g., materials and surface chemistry; conversion efficiency; product selectivity; and the mechanisms, pathways, and kinetics of the associated reactions). Current shortcomings and research avenues are also discussed to help establish a roadmap for future development of the gas-phase FF hydrogenation technology and associated disciplines. Overall, the present review is expected to offer much-needed insights into the scalability of metal-based catalytic systems for efficient FF hydrogenation in the gas phase.