Valeric Biofuel Production from γ‐Valerolactone over Bifunctional Catalysts with Moderate Noble‐Metal Loading

MARTÍNEZ FIGUEREDO, KARLA G.; VIRGILIO, EMANUEL M.; SEGOBIA, DARÍO J.; BERTERO, NICOLÁS MAXIMILIANO

ChemPlusChem

Wiley

Lugar: New Jersey; Año: 2021

2192-6506

SiO2-Al2O3-supported Ru, Ir and Pt-based catalysts with moderate metal loading (1%) were tested for the first time in the production of pentyl valerate (PV) in liquid phase from gamma-valerolactone, pentanol (in excess) and H2. The acidity of these bifunctional catalysts, plays a key role in the one-pot process comprising two consecutive acid-catalyzed reactions and a metal-catalyzed one. Metal dispersion also shown to be relevant for the conversion of the pentyl pentenoate intermediate into PV by hydrogenation over the metal sites. Pt/SA catalyst with the highest surface acidity and metal dispersion reached total GVL conversion with a PV yield of 90.0% after 10 h, exhibiting a PV productivity of 300 mmol/gM.h, i.e. a value between three and four times higher than the best result reported until now. These findings highlight the potential that noble metal-based catalyst with moderate metal loading have in the valorization of biomass-derived platform molecules such as gamma-valerolactone.