Catalysis Today, Vol.344, 158-165, 2020
Highly selective hydrogenation of levulinic acid catalyzed by Ru on TiO2-SiO2 hybrid support
Levulinic acid is an important molecule of biomass and the gamma-valerolactone (GVL) is one of the most promising compound from levulinic acid. We have developed an efficient catalyst for the catalytic conversion of LA into GVL, ruthenium based catalyst in silica, titania and a silica-titania hybrid support The prepared catalysts were characterized by TEM, XRD, TPR and nitrogen adsorption analysis. The results have shown higher catalytic activity of Ru/TiO2-SiO2 than Ru/TiO2 either Ru/SiO2. Herein, we report that yields higher than 90% were obtained for gamma-valerolactone from levulinic acid hydrogenation catalyzed by Ru/TiO2-SiO2 at 100 degrees C and 20 atm of hydrogen without additives.