Highly Active Catalytic Ruthenium/TiO₂ Nanomaterials for Continuous Production of γ‐Valerolactone

Abstract

Green energy production from renewable sources is an attractive, but challenging topic to face the likely energy crisis scenario in the future. In the current work, a series of versatile Ru/TiO catalysts were simply synthesized and employed in continuous-flow catalytic transfer hydrogenation of industrially derived methyl levulinate biowaste (from Avantium Chemicals B.V.) to form γ-valerolactone. Different analytical techniques were applied in the characterization of the as-synthesized catalysts, including XRD, SEM, energy-dispersion X-ray spectroscopy, TEM, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effects of various reaction conditions (e.g., temperature, concentration, and flow rate) were investigated. Results suggested that optimum dispersion and distribution of Ru on the TiO surface could efficiently promote the production of γ-valerolactone; the 5 % Ru/TiO catalyst provided excellent catalytic performance and stability compared with commercial Ru catalysts.

Transformation of Levulinic Acid to Valeric Biofuels: A Review on Heterogeneous Bifunctional Catalytic Systems

“…In addition to the abovementioned resins and carbon materials, other solid acid supports, such as zeolites, HAPs, and metallic oxides, have also been investigated in recent years. Effects of different support acidities (Nb 2 O 5 , TiO 2 , H‐β, and H‐ZSM5) on the catalytic performance were explored under the expected harsh conditions by Luo et al .…”

Enhanced Production of γ‐Valerolactone with an Internal Source of Hydrogen on Ca‐Modified TiO2 Supported Ru Catalysts

“…The optimal dispersion and distribution of Ru on the TiO 2 support was recently proposed to explain the high activity and stability displayed by a 5 %Ru/TiO 2 catalyst in a continuous flow hydrogenation of methyl levulinate when compared with commercial Ru/C and Ru/Al 2 O 3 reference catalysts . In addition, Li et al.…”

Enhanced Production of γ‐Valerolactone with an Internal Source of Hydrogen on Ca‐Modified TiO2 Supported Ru Catalysts

“…As ac onsequence, the properties of the catalysts were modified, and smallerr uthenium particles that had stronger interactions with the support were obtained. [10] In addition, Li et al reported that the high activity and selectivity achieved on an anatase-TiO 2 -supported Ru catalysts werea ttributed to enhanced metal-supporti nteraction thanks to intimate contact between the Ru and anatase nanoparticles and to the nanometer sized Ru. The optimum size of Ru particles that allowed for most efficient levulinic acid conversion was established.…”

“…[9] The optimal dispersion and distribution of Ru on the TiO 2 support was recently proposed to explain the high activity and stabilityd isplayed by a5 %Ru/TiO 2 catalysti nacontinuous flow hydrogenation of methyl levulinate when compared with commercial Ru/C and Ru/Al 2 O 3 reference catalysts. [10] In addition, Li et al reported that the high activity and selectivity achieved on an anatase-TiO 2 -supported Ru catalysts werea ttributed to enhanced metal-supporti nteraction thanks to intimate contact between the Ru and anatase nanoparticles and to the nanometer sized Ru. As tronger electron donation from TiO 2 to Ru and an easier reducibility of the Ru species were proposed to modify both the activity and selectivity patterns and to boost the activity of Ru for the selectivet ransformation of substrates.…”