LAUSR

With the aim of producing high potential biomass derived chemicals and biofuels in safe environment, carbon–MgO composite (MgO-CX, X = wt% of carbon content) eco-friendly metal-free catalysts have been prepared via in-situ transformation technique using rice grain as carbon precursor. All these MgO-CX catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction, BET surface area, temperature programmed desorption of CO2, Raman and FT-IR. The MgO-CX catalysts are subjected to catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural into furfuryl alcohol, using isopropanol as H-donor in continuous process at atmospheric pressure. MgO-C68 is the best catalyst of this series, which exhibited 100% conversion of furfural with 98% selectivity of furfuryl alcohol. The existence of large number of suitable basic sites on the surface of MgO-C68 catalyst is responsible for its superior catalytic activity and durability.Graphical Abstract