
Efficient Vapor‐Phase Selective Hydrogenolysis of Bio‐Levulinic Acid to γ‐Valerolactone Using Cu Supported on Hydrotalcite Catalysts
Author(s) -
Mitta Harisekhar,
Seelam Prem Kumar,
Chary K. V. Raghava,
Mutyala Suresh,
Boddula Rajender,
Asiri Abdullah M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
global challenges
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2056-6646
DOI - 10.1002/gch2.201800028
Subject(s) - hydrogenolysis , hydrotalcite , levulinic acid , catalysis , selectivity , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , titration , desorption , ammonia , organic chemistry , adsorption , nuclear chemistry
In this work, Cu nanoparticles (Cu NPs, 2‐20 nm) supported on Hydrotalcite catalysts exhibit enhanced selectivity for γ‐valerolactone (GVL) during hydrogenolysis of levulinic acid (LA). At 260 °C, over 3 wt% Cu achieved 87.5% of LA conversion with a maximum GVL selectivity (95%). In contrast, LA hydrogenolysis over 3Cu/Hydrotalcite catalyst is highly active and stable toward the production of GVL due to balanced acido‐basicity and higher Cu dispersion with ultrasmall particle sizes, which are investigated through the temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of ammonia, N 2 O titration, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Hydrotalcite in combination with inexpensive Cu catalyst is found to be an efficient and environmentally benign for LA hydrogenolysis.