Bimetallic Cu-Zn/SiO2 Catalyst for Selective Hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan

A high-performance Cu-Zn/SiO 2 catalyst was synthesized using a urea-assisted deposition-precipitation strategy and employed in the chemoselective hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF). Characterization results showed that Zn was critical for regulating the catalyst characteristics by improving Cu dispersion, inhibiting particle sintering, and increasing the surface concentration of Cu 0 /Cu⁺ active sites. Moreover, using urea as a precipitant was essential for ensuring the uniform deposition of Cu and Zn species onto SiO 2 microspheres. At a relatively low temperature of 130 °C, the Cu 5 -Zn 5 /SiO 2 catalyst afforded a BHMF yield of up to 98.1% within 3 h. The cooperative effect of Cu 0 /Cu⁺ active sites and the uniform deposition of Cu and Zn species decisively influenced the efficient hydrogenation of HMF. This finding highlights the potential of the Cu-Zn/SiO 2 catalyst for the sustainable upgrading of biomass-derived platform chemicals.