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Formic acid assisted hydrogenation of levulinic acid to \(\upgamma \)-valerolactone over ordered mesoporous \(\hbox {Cu/Fe}_{2}\hbox {O}_{3}\) catalyst prepared by hard template method

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Abstract

 Vapor phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid using formic acid as a hydrogen source has been conducted over ordered mesoporous \(\hbox {Cu/Fe}_{2}\hbox {O}_{3}\) catalysts prepared by hard template method using mesoporous silica, SBA-15. X-ray diffraction result reveals the absence of copper peaks because of either highly dispersed state, or formation of a solid solution with iron oxides. The \(\hbox {N}_{2}\) sorption analysis and TEM results indicate the retainment of mesoporous nature in the samples. Among the catalysts tested, 10 (wt%) \(\hbox {Cu/Fe}_{2}\hbox {O}_{3}\) seems to be an efficient catalyst to yield higher amounts of \(\upgamma \)-valerolactone under hydrogen-free conditions. The results reveal the formation of spinel species, which gets reduced easily at a lower temperature (as evidenced from TPR studies), and as a consequence of this synergism, significant improvement in the catalytic performance for the synthesis of \(\upgamma \)-valerolactone from levulinic acid and formic acid in presence of water has been achieved. The presence of water plays a crucial role in obtaining a higher yield of \(\upgamma \)-valerolactone. This makes the catalytic system a viable methodology for hydrogenation of levulinic acid to get \(\upgamma \)-valerolactone.

Graphical Abstract 

SYNOPSIS: Cu (10wt%) deposited on mesoporous \(\hbox {Fe}_{2}\hbox {O}_{3}\) prepared by hard template method exhibits good activity in the hydrogenation hydrogenation of levulunic acid with formic acid as \(\hbox {H}_{2}\) source in vapour phase conditions.

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Acknowledgements

Authors ARM, MK and VRM thank UGC, New Delhi, India for the award of a Junior Research Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500 007, India

    Muppala Ashokraju, Varkolu Mohan, Kondeboina Murali, Maddaluri Venkat Rao, Burri David Raju & Kamaraju Seetha Rama Rao

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Telangana, 502 285, India

    Varkolu Mohan

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  1. Muppala Ashokraju
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Correspondence to Kamaraju Seetha Rama Rao.

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Ashokraju, M., Mohan, V., Murali, K. et al. Formic acid assisted hydrogenation of levulinic acid to \(\upgamma \)-valerolactone over ordered mesoporous \(\hbox {Cu/Fe}_{2}\hbox {O}_{3}\) catalyst prepared by hard template method. J Chem Sci 130, 16 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12039-018-1418-3

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