Hydrogenation of methyl levulinate to γ‐valerolactone over Cu─Mg oxide using MeOH as in situ hydrogen source
2019
Cao, Xuejuan | Wei, Junnan | Liu, Huai | Lv, Xinyue | Tang, Xing | Zeng, Xianhai | Sun, Yong | Lei, Tingzhou | Liu, Shijie | Lin, Lu
BACKGROUND: γ‐Valerolactone (GVL) is a versatile biomass‐derived platform molecule that could serve as a building block to produce chemicals, materials and fuels, but the production of GVL from biomass via a cost‐competitive method is challenging. In this contribution, a robust Cu─Mg oxide was prepared as an efficient bifunctional catalyst for both H₂ production by MeOH reforming and hydrogenation of methyl levulinate (ML) to GVL in MeOH medium. RESULTS: Cu₀.₈₇Mg₀.₁₃Oₓ prepared by a urea hydrolysis method offered a GVL yield up to 90.6% at 220°C in 4 h without external hydrogen. This catalyst could be reused for at least seven consecutive cycles without loss of its activity. Notably, Cu₀.₈₇Mg₀.₁₃Oₓ also provided nearly 70% GVL yield in methanolysis products of cellulose in the presence of humins. Characterization of the catalyst indicates that the incorporation of MgO greatly facilitates the stabilization of Cu⁺ species that possess a better catalytic performance in ML hydrogenation compared with metallic Cu. CONCLUSION: This robust Cu₀.₈₇Mg₀.₁₃Oₓ could greatly contribute to develop a highly facile and desirable two‐step strategy for GVL production from cellulose, through the integration of ML production by methanolysis of cellulose, H₂ formation by MeOH reforming and ML hydrogenation in MeOH medium. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
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