Effect of activation temperature on the surface copper particles and catalytic properties of Cu–Ni–Mg–Al oxides from hydrotalcite-like precursors

Abstract The Cu–Ni–Mg–Al oxides catalysts for furfural hydrogenation were prepared from the hydrotalcite-like precursors, and the effect of activation temperature on the Cu 0 particles and catalytic properties of the catalyst was thoroughly investigated. The catalyst activated by H 2 at 300 °C was found to exhibit the best catalytic activity, due to the presence of the smallest Cu 0 particles with a high dispersion. Moreover, the bigger Cu 0 particles were active for furfuralcohol hydrogenolysis to 2-methylfuran in the liquid-phase (ethanolic solution), and the hydrogenation of the furan ring of furfuralcohol and 2-methylfuran on Cu 0 particles was easily achieved in the vapour-phase.