Facile and Efficient Conversion of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone over ZrO2-Biochar Nanocomposite Through Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation

doi:10.19894/j.issn.1000-0518.210106

Chinese Journal of Applied Chemistry ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (12): 1621-1631.DOI: 10.19894/j.issn.1000-0518.210106

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Facile and Efficient Conversion of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone over ZrO₂-Biochar Nanocomposite Through Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation

ZHANG Qi-Feng^1,2, ZHANG Zheng-Jie^1,2, LIU Meng-Ying^1,2, PAN Jian³, YU Xing-Hai^1,4*

¹(Institute of Flexible Composite Materials, Hexi University, Zhangye 734000, China)
²(College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hexi University, Zhangye 734000, China)
³(Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, Delaware, USA)
⁴(Key Laboratory of Hexi Corridor Resources and Utilization of Gansu, Hexi University, Zhangye 734000, China)

Received:2021-03-10 Revised:2021-07-29 Published:2021-12-01 Online:2022-02-01
Supported by:
National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.21865008), the Youth Talents in Gansu Province (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team of Longyuan (No.GSODPPC 2018-81) and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students of Gansu Province (No.2019-7)

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Abstract

Abstract: Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of biomass-derived levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) has attracted much interest in the field of biomass transformation. Herein, a novel ZrO₂-biochar composite was developed and served as an available catalyst for LA conversion into GVL via a Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reaction, known as the typical CTH process. The catalyst was prepared by a sol-hydrothermal method, and its structure was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. It is found that the high surface area and hierarchical structure of biochar matrix facilitates the dispersion of the zirconium oxide active species on it, and the catalytic activity for LA conversion is further promoted in the presence of isopropanol as hydrogen donors. The effects of catalyst loading, reaction temperature and time are examined, and the highest LA conversion reaches 94.8% with 87.5% GVL selectivity at 150 ℃ for 16 h with the catalyst loading of 19.8%. Afterwards, the catalysts are collected by centrifugation and reused for five times without the obvious loss of activity. Therefore, this eco-friendly catalyst is favorable for efficient transformation from LA to GVL due to its merits of cost-effectiveness and easy availability.

Key words: Catalyst transfer hydrogenation, Levulinic acid, γ-Valerolactone, Zirconium oxide, Biochar support

CLC Number:

O643.3

ZHANG Qi-Feng, ZHANG Zheng-Jie, LIU Meng-Ying, PAN Jian, YU Xing-Hai. Facile and Efficient Conversion of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone over ZrO₂-Biochar Nanocomposite Through Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Chemistry, 2021, 38(12): 1621-1631.

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Facile and Efficient Conversion of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone over ZrO₂-Biochar Nanocomposite Through Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation

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