The effect of Sn loading in the Pt/TiO2 catalyst on the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol was studied. The Sn with various loadings (0.1 – 1 wt%) was doped on TiO2 support by wet impregnation method and subsequently 0.5 wt% Pt was re-impregnated on the Sn/TiO2 material in the first part. In the second part, the catalyst with the suitable Sn loading in the first part was selected to study the change of the preparation methods, sequence impregnation, calcination temperature change and FSP (Flame spray pyrolysis). The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2-physisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H2-temperature programmed reduction and H2 chemisorption. The activity, selectivity and stability of catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol were evaluated. The presence of 0.5 wt% Sn loading exhibited the highest metal active sites confirmed by H2 chemisorption. This was consistent with the highest activity and yield for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. The Pt catalyst supported on commercial P25 TiO2 prepared by sequnce impregnation of Pt after Sn with calcination at low temperature showed the most performance in the furfural hydrogenation reaction.
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