Direct conversion of xylose to furfuryl alcohol on single organic–inorganic hybrid mesoporous silica-supported catalysts

[Display omitted] •Furfuryl alcohol can be produced directly from xylose in a single step process.•Presence of acid groups suppresses hydrogenation of xylose to its sugar alcohol.•Remarkable selectivities within 83–87% were reached in sugar direct conversion.•Hybrid catalysts were stable regarding mesostructure but acid groups leaching is still a challenge. One-step conversion of xylose to furfuryl alcohol was investigated over Pt catalysts supported on ordered mesoporous SBA-15 bearing SO3H acid groups. Samples were characterized by SAXRD, FTIR, 29Si CP-NMR, XRF, FE-SEM and TG-MS, and they were all tested in aqueous-phase conversion of xylose in a semi-batch reactor. It was found that the presence of acid sites enhances catalytic activity, confirming that they are also playing a role in xylose conversion. A coupled activity of both metal and acid surface centres was thus suggested. The distribution of products was also found to be significantly modified by grafting organosulfonic groups on catalyst surface; while xylitol was the main product on unmodified Pt/SBA-15 catalyst (selectivity of 45%), a remarkable selectivity of 83–87% to furfuryl alcohol was accomplished over the catalysts supported on organic–inorganic hybrid mesoporous silica. Additionally, no furfural was detected along the aqueous-phase reaction, evidencing that no remote surface acid sites were playing a sole role. It was suggested that direct highly chemoselective conversion of xylose to furfuryl alcohol takes place on vicinal acid–metal surface sites. Finally, the hybrid catalysts were found to be stable regarding their mesostructure framework upon aqueous-phase processing but acid groups resistance to leaching is still the major challenge for one-pot conversion.