Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Acid-Base Bifunctional Hf Nanohybrids-Enabled High Selectivity in Catalytic Conversion of Ethyl Levulinate to γ-Valerolactone

Version 1 : Received: 26 May 2018 / Approved: 28 May 2018 / Online: 28 May 2018 (12:27:29 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Wu, W.; Li, Y.; Li, H.; Zhao, W.; Yang, S. Acid–Base Bifunctional Hf Nanohybrids Enable High Selectivity in the Catalytic Conversion of Ethyl Levulinate to γ-Valerolactone. Catalysts 2018, 8, 264. Wu, W.; Li, Y.; Li, H.; Zhao, W.; Yang, S. Acid–Base Bifunctional Hf Nanohybrids Enable High Selectivity in the Catalytic Conversion of Ethyl Levulinate to γ-Valerolactone. Catalysts 2018, 8, 264.

Abstract

Catalytic upgrading of bio-based platform molecules is one of promising approaches for biomass valorization. However, most solid catalysts are thermally and/or chemically unstable and difficult to prepare. In this study, a stable organic phosphonate-hafnium solid catalyst (PPOA-Hf) was synthesized, and acid-base bifunctional sites were found to play a cooperative role in the cascade transfer hydrogenation and cyclization of ethyl levulinate (EL) to γ-valerolactone (GVL). Under relatively mild reaction conditions of 160 ºC for 6 h, EL was completely converted to GVL in a good yield of 85%. The apparent activation energy was calculated to be 53 kJ/mol, which was lower than other solid catalysts for the same reaction. In addition, the PPOA-Hf solid catalyst did not significantly decrease its activity after five recycles, and no evident leaching of Hf was observed, indicating its high stability and potential practical application.

Keywords

heterogeneous catalysis; transfer hydrogenation; biomass conversion; biofuels; catalytic materials

Subject

Chemistry and Materials Science, Applied Chemistry

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