A single-step new route has been developed to synthesize 2 pentanone from biomass-derived furfural via simultaneous hydrodeoxygenation (HDO), ring-opening (RO) and hydrogenation reactions over a bi-metallic Cu–Ni/SBA-15 catalyst in a fixed-bed continuous flow reactor. Cu–Ni/SBA-15 catalysts were synthesized by the incipient wetness impregnation method. Synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), TEM mapping, SEM, ICP-AES. Ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) analysis of catalysts revealed that moderate acidity of 10Cu–5Ni/SBA-15 catalyst favoured a high yield of 2 pentanone. DFT calculation, indicate the adsorption energy and the reaction mechanism of the molecules on the surface of 10Cu–5Ni/SBA-15 play a vital role for the desired product. The catalyst system was found highly active and selective, yielding (78%) of 2 pentanone under mild reaction conditions. The effect of reaction temperature was studied in detail, and time on stream analysis confirmed the catalyst is long-lasting stable up to 20 h of reaction duration.

2 Pentanone, also known as ethyl acetone or fema 2842, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as ketones. These are organic compounds in which a carbonyl group is bonded to two carbon atoms R2C=O (neither R may be a hydrogen atom). Ketones that have one or more alpha-hydrogen atoms undergo keto-enol tautomerization, the tautomer being an enol. 2 Pentanone is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water, and relatively neutral. Thus, 2 pentanone is considered to be an oxygenated hydrocarbon lipid molecule. 2 Pentanone is a sweet, alcohol, and banana tasting compound. 2 Pentanone is found, on average, in the highest concentration within milk (cow). 2 Pentanone has also been detected, but not quantified, in several different foods, such as fats and oils, corns, apples, evergreen blackberries, and fruits. This could make 2 pentanone a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. 2 Pentanone, with regard to humans, has been found to be associated with several diseases such as ulcerative colitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and crohn's disease; 2 pentanone has also been linked to the inborn metabolic disorder celiac disease.