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Conversion of Biomass‐Derived Levulinate and Formate Esters into γ‐Valerolactone over Supported Gold Catalysts
Author(s) -
Du XianLong,
Bi QingYuan,
Liu YongMei,
Cao Yong,
Fan KangNian
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201100483
Subject(s) - chemistry , catalysis , formate , biomass (ecology) , organic chemistry , sulfuric acid , decomposition , cellulose , cellulosic ethanol , oceanography , geology
The utilization of biomass has recently attracted tremendous attention as a potential alternative to petroleum for the production of liquid fuels and chemicals. We report an efficient alcohol‐mediated reactive extraction strategy by which a hydrophobic mixture of butyl levulinate and formate esters, derived from cellulosic biomass, can be converted to valuable γ‐valerolactone (GVL) by a simple supported gold catalyst system without need of an external hydrogen source. The essential role of the supported gold is to facilitate the rapid and selective decomposition of butyl formate to produce a hydrogen stream, which enables the highly effective reduction of butyl levulinate into GVL. This protocol simplifies the recovery and recycling of sulfuric acid, which is used for cellulose deconstruction.