DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL HETERO-DOPED CATALYST FOR FURFURAL SYNTHESIS

Abstract

The efficient and sustainable conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into furfural necessitates the development of stable and highly active catalysts. This study presents the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic evaluation of nitrogen-doped sulfonated catalyst (NSC) catalysts derived from biomass for the selective dehydration of xylose to furfural. The catalyst synthesis involved KOH activation, N-doping using urea, and sulfonation with H2SO4, optimizing acidity and structural stability. Characterization techniques, including XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, and elemental analysis, confirmed successful N incorporation and sulfonation, enhancing porosity, improved electronic properties, and increased acid site density of 3.150 ± 0.19 mmol/g. BET surface area analysis revealed that the NC 700 catalyst exhibited the highest surface area of 943.492 m²/g, with a slight reduction post-sulfonation due to functionalization. The NSC catalyst achieved a maximum furfural yield of 67%, significantly outperforming the non-doped sulfonated C(SC) catalyst. Reusability tests confirmed that the NSC catalyst retained its catalytic efficiency over multiple cycles, with only a minor decline in acid density of 2.91 ± 0.10 mmol/g due to sulfonic group leaching. These findings highlight the synergistic effect of N-doping and sulfonation in enhancing catalyst performance, providing a promising approach for sustainable furfural production