Optimization and Kinetics of Furfural Oxidation to Furoic Acid Over Alum-impregnated Activated Alumina

In the present investigation, oxidation of furfural was carried out using alum-impregnated activated alumina, which led to the formation of 2-furancarboxylic acid (furoic acid). Operational parameters such as catalytic ratio were varied from 1 to 9%, temperature from 40 to 70 degrees C, initial concentration from 0.1 to 0.5 m and time from 0.5-7.5 h, and were optimized using Box-Behnken design. The Fisher F-value of 55.10 confirmed that the second-order regression model used for prediction of results was satisfactory. By using the reaction scheme proposed, rate constants at various reaction temperatures were determined. Activation energy and frequency factor corresponding to the reaction were also calculated.