gamma-Valerolactone is considered as a promising platform chemical from lignocellulosic biomass. This study focusses on the kinetics of the production of gamma-alerolactone from three different esters of levulinic acid using Ru supported on activated carbon as hydrogenation catalyst. Methyl, ethyl, and n-butyl levulinates are used as substrates. The transformation of these alkyl levulinates proceeds through a hydrogenation of the substrate to the intermediate gamma-hydroxy valeriate followed by lactonization to form gamma-valerolactone. Alkyl levulinates with shorter alkyl residue show an accelerated formation of gamma-valerolactone. Nevertheless, an efficient transformation of all alkyl levulinates into gamma-valerolactone is possible. The kinetic study indicates that at all reaction temperatures, lactonization occurs slower than hydrogenation and presents the rate-determining step. Analysis of the kinetic data shows the activation energies of hydrogenation and lactonization increase in the following order: methly levulinate < ethyl levulinate < butyl levulinate. Furthermore, activation energies for the hydrogenation and lactonization steps of the studied alkyl levulinates are in the range of 41-58 kJ mol(-1) and 50-63 kJ mol(-1), respectively, emphasizing the potential of alkyl levulinates as promising intermediates for.valerolactone formation.