Conversion of levulinic acid and cellulose to γ-valerolactone over Raney-Ni catalyst using formic acid as a hydrogen donor

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.

Keywords:

• levulinic acid
• γ-valerolactone
• formic acid
• Raney-Ni
• cellulose

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

We thank United States National Science Foundation (NSF) grants CBET-1336469, CBET-1704144, HRD-1036593, and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant CBG-2010-38821-21569 for financial support.