Title
Conversion of levulinic acid and cellulose to γ-valerolactone over Raney-Ni catalyst using formic acid as a hydrogen donor
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2021
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the conversion of levulinic acid (LA) and cellulose (DP∼450) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) over Raney-Ni catalyst. In this process, hydrogenation was fulfilled using formic acid (FA) as the hydrogen donor. The highest LA conversion (100%) and GVL yield (68.5%) were obtained using LA:FA 1:4 ratio, Raney-Ni catalyst (20 mg/mmol of LA) and heating at 200 °C for 48 h. Under similar reaction conditions cellulose (DP∼450) was converted into GVL in 23.3% yield in a single reactor process. The addition of acidic co-catalysts such as Brønsted acids: H2SO4, Amberlyst-15 (H+) or Dowex 50WX8 to the reaction mixture did not improve the GVL yield. The SEM analysis of the Raney Ni-catalyst used in transformation of cellulose to GVL showed that catalyst surface gets contaminated with carbon deposits in the single reactor process.
Recommended Citation
Amarasekara, A., Maroney Lawrence, Y., Fernandez, A., Grady, T., & Wiredu, B. (2021). Conversion of levulinic acid and cellulose to γ-valerolactone over Raney-Ni catalyst using formic acid as a hydrogen donor. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/chemistry-physics-facpubs/31