Abstract: In order to explore the high efficiency catalyst for the hydrogenation of biomass aldehyde, the Au/Al₂O₃ catalyst was prepared by precipitation and deposition method with noble metal Au as the active component. The morphology of the catalyst was characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, static low temperature nitrogen adsorption capacity method and NH₃ programmed temperature desorption. The Au/Al₂O₃ catalyst was applied to the hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF). The effects of precipitator type, Au loading capacity, reaction temperature, reaction pressure and reaction time on the catalytic performance were investigated, and the cyclic stability of the catalyst was analyzed. The results showed that the active metal Au had a high catalytic activity for the reaction, and the type of precipitator had a significant effect on the particle size and loading rate of Au particles, leading to a certain difference in activity. When the precipitant was a mixture of NaOH and Na₂CO₃ (mass ratio of 1:1), the Au loading capacity was 2.0%, the reaction temperature was 100 ℃, the H₂ pressure was 3.0 MPa, and the reaction time was 4 h, 0.30 g catalyst could catalyze 2.4 mmol HMF to BHMF. The mass conversion of HMF was 92.1% and the mass selectivity of BHMF was 92.0%.

Key words: 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan, catalyst, hydrogenation, precipitant