Catalysis Communications (Nov 2023)
Hydrodeoxygenation of levulinic acid over Ru-based catalyst: Importance of acidic promoter
Abstract
Biorefineries are fundamental for sustainable energy. This research explored the conversion of biomass-derived Levulinic acid (LA) into essential compounds γ-valerolactone (GVL) and 1,4-pentanediol (1,4-PDO) using the Ru2.5Mn15Al catalyst. The study underscores the role of Ru incorporation and specific promoters in enhancing catalyst efficiency. The crucial challenge is to destroy the particularly stable ring structure of GVL. The crucial roles of acidity and specific metal species in directing catalytic pathways were revealed by the detailed characterization of the catalyst's textural, acidic, reduction, and electronic properties. They provided valuable insights for sustainable chemical synthesis.