Catalytic conversion of biomass-derived levulinic acid into alcohols over nanoporous Ru catalyst†
Abstract
Several Ru-based catalysts were employed for the hydrogenation of levulinic acid and nanoporous Ru showed attractive catalytic performance for alcohols production. It was found that the total yield of 2-butanol and 2-pentanol was 78.8% and the yield of 1,4-pentadiol was 74.6%, respectively acquired at 140 °C and 100 °C using H2O as the solvent. Thanks to its acid site and lattice plane, nanoporous Ru provided sites for activating the lactone group of GVL and C–C/C–O bonds of PDO.