Integrated Chemical and Structural Design of Pd-Based Catalysts for Furfural Production via Biomass Pyrolysis

This thesis develops new catalysts to convert biomass, especially cellulose, into furfural, a valuable chemical used to make fuels, plastics, and medicines. Producing furfural from biomass is difficult because cellulose breaks down through many competing reactions, and current catalysts often deactivate quickly. This research designs advances acidic Pd-based mesoporous silica catalysts that are more stable and better at moving molecules through their pores. These improvements help the catalysts produce furfural more efficiently and last longer. The findings show how both the chemistry and structure of a catalyst must be optimised together to create cleaner and more sustainable ways of converting biomass into useful products