KINETICS OF HYDROGENATION OF FURFURAL TO FURFURYL ALCOHOL OVER COPPERCHROMITE CATALYST AND OPTIMUM REGENERATION PROCEDURES

The deactivation mechanism of a copper chromite catalyst, used in sele ctive hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol, was investigated and the methods to regenerate it were searched. The catalyst deactivat ion mechanisms was found to be due to the fouling resin macromolecules , formed by side reactions of furfural on the catalyst surface. The op timum catalyst regeneration was by one drying at 110 degrees C for 5 d ays, heating at 325 degrees C for 18 hours followed by refluxing in cy clohexanol for 4 hours. The conversion to furfuryl alcohol by the rege nerated sample in vapor phase hydrogenation was 78 per cent, compared to 79.5 per cent for the fresh catalyst. The following rate equation f or hydrogenation reaction under investigation was derived from experim ental results: dX(A)/dt=38.37(1-X(A))(3.8).