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Process Optimization for a Sustainable and Selective Conversion of Fumaric Acid into γ-Butyrolactone Over Pd-Re/SiO2

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Abstract

Selective production of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) from the catalytic hydrogenation of fumaric acid is an interesting reaction in the realm of biomass valorization, since GBL can be considered a bio-derived platform molecule. From a green chemistry point of view, water would be the ideal solvent, although accomplishing good conversion and selectivity rates in aqueous media can be challenging for this hydrogenation reaction, even when a suitable catalyst is employed. Herein, this process was optimized through experimental design, using a Pd-Re/SiO2 catalyst and water as solvent. The conversion of fumaric acid was complete, and GBL was produced with 91% selectivity at the pressure and temperature conditions predicted by the empirical model (181 °C and 41 bar, repectively). The experimental design allowed for high selectivity to be obtained in aqueous media by providing better rationalization of the combined effect of the temperature and pressure variables.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of FAPESP through project 2015/14905-0 and of FAPESP and SHELL Brazil through the ‘Research Centre for Gas Innovation – RCGI’ (FAPESP Proc. 2014/50279-4), hosted by the University of Sao Paulo. Maitê Gothe also acknowledges RCGI for her PhD grant. The authors also acknowledge the support given by ANP (Brazil’s National Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency) through the R&D levy regulation. Adolfo Figueredo acknowledges CAPES (88882.375717/2019-01) for his PhD grant and PROCAD for support financial. Carolina Costa acknowledges CNPQ (130638/2018-8) for her MSc grant. We thank Prof. Renato V. Gonçalves for the contribution on Rietveld refinement and discussion on XRD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nucleus of Education and Research in Oil and Gas, Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Adolfo L. Figueredo, Carolina S. Costa & Camila G. Pereira

  2. Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Maitê L. Gothe, Liane M. Rossi, Reinaldo C. Bazito & Pedro Vidinha

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  1. Adolfo L. Figueredo
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  2. Carolina S. Costa
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Correspondence to Pedro Vidinha.

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Figueredo, A.L., Costa, C.S., Gothe, M.L. et al. Process Optimization for a Sustainable and Selective Conversion of Fumaric Acid into γ-Butyrolactone Over Pd-Re/SiO2. Catal Lett 151, 1821–1833 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-020-03433-3

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