Facile conversion of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone using a high surface area magnetically separable Ni/NiO catalyst

Abstract

A study on the conversion of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) and methyl levulinate (ML) has been done using a high surface area Ni/NiO catalyst. The hydrogenation of levulinic acid over the Ni/NiO catalyst showed high mass activity for γ-valerolactone formation (16 mmol g_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹) at 110 °C at 40 bar pressure. The presence of acidity effects the conversion of LA to GVL and ML. First-principles DFT calculations were used to calculate the adsorption energy and transition state for the reaction. The Ni/NiO catalyst showed 99% LA conversion and 94% GVL selectivity at 110 °C in methanol, which is higher than the reported activity of Ni-based catalysts (RANEY® Ni and Ni/Al₂O₃).