One-Pot 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran Production from Levulinic Acid in Green Solvents Using Ni-Cu/Al2 O3 Catalysts.
The one-pot hydrogenation of levulinic acid to 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) was performed using a series of Ni-Cu/Al2 O3 catalysts in green solvents, such as water and biomass-derived alcohols. Ni/Al2 O3 provided the highest activity, whereas Cu/Al2 O3 was the most selective, reaching a 75 % MTHF yield at 250 °C after 24 h reaction time. Synergetic effects were observed when bimetallic Ni-Cu/Al2 O3 catalysts were used, reaching a 56 % MTHF yield in 5 h at 250 °C for the optimum Ni/Cu ratio. Remarkably, these high yields were obtained using non-noble metal-based catalysts and 2-propanol as the solvent. The catalytic activity and selectivity results are correlated to temperature programmed reduction (TPR), XRD, and STEM characterization data, identifying the role associated with mixed Ni-Cu particles in addition to monometallic Cu and Ni.
Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.
Iker
I
Obregón
Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.
Iñaki
I
Gandarias
Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.
Nemanja
N
Miletić
Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.
Ainhoa
A
Ocio
Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013, Bilbao, Spain. pedroluis.arias@ehu.eus.
Pedro L
PL
Arias
D020001:1-Butanol / Q000737:chemistry; D019840:2-Propanol / Q000737:chemistry; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D005663:Furans / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D006865:Hydrogenation; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
D005663:Furans; D007982:Levulinic Acids; D012997:Solvents; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D020001:1-Butanol; C550584:2-methyltetrahydrofuran; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D019840:2-Propanol; C032246:levulinic acid
2-methyltetrahydrofuran; biofuels; catalysts; hydrogenation; levulinic acid