Investigative study shows high selectivity in converting furfural to cyclopentanol using Co/Nb2O5 catalyst, suggesting potential in biomass utilization.
The Co/Nb 2 O 5 catalyst demonstrated high performance for the hydrogenation‐rearrangement of furfural to cyclopentanol in water, achieving 95.8% selectivity at full conversion. However, in alcoholic solvents, the main product was furfuryl alcohol, and the rearrangement reaction did not proceed. Acidic additives (FeCl 3 , CH 3 COOH) inhibited hydrogenation steps, whereas basic conditions (NaOH, Na 2 CO 3 ) suppressed the rearrangement step. Catalyst deactivation occurred due to Co agglomeration.
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Gai et al. (2026) studied this question.
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