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In Situ Generated Catalyst System to Convert Biomass‐Derived Levulinic Acid to γ‐Valerolactone
Author(s) -
Tang Xing,
Zeng Xianhai,
Li Zheng,
Li Weifeng,
Jiang Yetao,
Hu Lei,
Liu Shijie,
Sun Yong,
Lin Lu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201500115
Subject(s) - levulinic acid , catalysis , yield (engineering) , decomposition , chemistry , hydrolysis , humin , butanol , cellulose , in situ , organic chemistry , n butanol , materials science , ethanol , fertilizer , humic acid , metallurgy
This is the first report of HCl/ZrO(OH) 2 catalysts prepared in situ by the autonomous decomposition of ZrOCl 2 ⋅ 8 H 2 O in levulinic acid (LA)/2‐butanol solution, which catalyzed the esterification of LA in tandem with hydrocyclization to γ‐valerolactone (GVL) by Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reduction without the use of external H 2 . A maximum GVL yield of 92.4 % from neat LA and a GVL formation rate of 1092.2 μmol g −1 min −1 were achieved in 2‐butanol at 240 °C in 2 h. The in situ generated ZrO(OH) 2 was characterized comprehensively and its unexpected catalytic efficiency was attributed mainly to its extremely high surface area. A crude LA stream from the acid hydrolysis of cellulose was extracted into 2‐butanol and subjected to this catalyst system to give a GVL yield of 82.0 % even in the presence of humins.