Recent progress in selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural on heterogeneous Ni-containing catalysts

Lignocellulose biomass, without any doubts, is one of the most promising, and, therefore, one of the most studied sources for the production of biofuels, valuable chemicals and “green” solvents. Furfural – a product of biomass catalytic conversion – is a well-known “platform” molecule, a starting material for the obtaining of a number of important chemical substances. Nowadays, the focus of the researchers is directed to the search for a suitable catalytic system for effective conversion of furfural. In this review, the recent advances in the development of Ni-based mono- and bimetallic catalytic systems for furfural hydrogenation as an alternative to the industrial toxic copper chromite catalyst were considered. Special attention was paid to the study of the catalytic properties of bimetallic Ni-Me (second metal) catalytic systems, as well as a detailed discussion of the mechanisms of furfural hydrogenation. Furfural is a versatile building block for eco-friendly and sustainable applications to reduce industrial reliance on fossil-fuel carbon sources. Hydrogenation of furfural is one of the most effective ways for producing various value-added chemicals. This review combines the data about the recent advances in the development of Ni-based catalytic systems for furfural hydrogenation as an alternative to expensive catalysts based on noble metals and an industrial toxic copper chromite catalyst.