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An Efficient and Reusable Embedded Ru Catalyst for the Hydrogenolysis of Levulinic Acid to γ‐Valerolactone
Author(s) -
Wei Zuojun,
Lou Jiongtao,
Su Chuanmin,
Guo Dechao,
Liu Yingxin,
Deng Shuguang
Publication year - 2017
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.201601769
Subject(s) - levulinic acid , catalysis , hydrogenolysis , mesoporous material , nanoparticle , carbon fibers , leaching (pedology) , chemistry , adsorption , reusability , activated carbon , chemical engineering , materials science , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , composite number , environmental science , software , computer science , soil science , engineering , composite material , soil water , programming language
To achieve a higher activity and reusability of a Ru‐based catalyst, Ru nanoparticles were embedded in N‐doped mesoporous carbon through a hard‐template method. The catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance (314 h −1 turnover frequency) and recyclability (reusable five times with 3 % activity loss) for the hydrogenolysis of levulinic acid to γ‐valerolactone. Compared with the mesoporous carbon without N‐doping and conventional activated carbon, the introduction of N‐dopant effectively improved the dispersion of Ru nanoparticles, decreased the average size of Ru nanoparticles to as small as 1.32 nm, and improved the adsorption of levulinic acid, which contributed to the increase in the activity of the catalyst. Additionally, the embedding method increased the interaction between Ru nanoparticles and carbon support in contrast with the conventional impregnation method, thus preventing the Ru nanoparticles from migration, aggregation, and leaching from the carbon surface and therefore increasing the reusability of the catalyst.