Vapor-phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone over Cu-Ni bimetallic catalysts

• Published in: Catalysis communications Vol. 97; pp. 79 - 82
• Main Authors: Yoshida, Rei, Sun, Daolai, Yamada, Yasuhiro, Sato, Satoshi, Hutchings, Graham J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.07.2017
• Subjects: Cu-Ni bimetallic catalyst; Hydrogenation; Levulinic acid; γ-Valerolactone; Levulinic acid; Hydrogenation; Cu-Ni bimetallic catalyst; γ-Valerolactone
• ISSN: 1566-7367; 1873-3905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2017.04.018

Vapor-phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) was performed over SiO2-supported Cu-Ni bimetallic catalysts with different Cu/Ni weight ratios under ambient H2 pressure. Characterization of the catalysts was carried out using powder X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction and thermogravimetric analysis. In contrast to the monometallic catalysts i.e. Ni/SiO2 and Cu/SiO2, the Cu-Ni/SiO2 bimetallic catalyst with a Cu/Ni weight ratio of 6/14 exhibits an excellent catalytic activity, and gave a GVL yield higher than 99% with a productivity of 1.64kgGVLkgcat.−1h−1 at 250°C and at a high WHSV of 1.65h−1 for 50h. [Display omitted] •Hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone was performed over Cu-Ni bimetallic catalyst.•SiO2-supported Cu-Ni bimetallic catalysts show stable catalytic activity in H2 flow at 250°C.•An excellent γ-valerolactone yield higher than 98% was obtained at Cu/Ni weight ratio of 6/14.•A high γ-valerolactone productivity of 1.64kgkgcat.−1h−1 was obtained at a high WHSV of 1.65h−1.•Inhibition of carbon deposition by Ni and high selectivity of Cu improved the catalyst performance.