An Efficient and Reusable Embedded Ru Catalyst for the Hydrogenolysis of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone.
To achieve a higher activity and reusability of a Ru-based catalyst, Ru nanoparticles were embedded in N-doped mesoporous carbon through a hard-template method. The catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance (314 h-1turnover frequency) and recyclability (reusable five times with 3 % activity loss) for the hydrogenolysis of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone. Compared with the mesoporous carbon without N-doping and conventional activated carbon, the introduction of N-dopant effectively improved the dispersion of Ru nanoparticles, decreased the average size of Ru nanoparticles to as small as 1.32 nm, and improved the adsorption of levulinic acid, which contributed to the increase in the activity of the catalyst. Additionally, the embedding method increased the interaction between Ru nanoparticles and carbon support in contrast with the conventional impregnation method, thus preventing the Ru nanoparticles from migration, aggregation, and leaching from the carbon surface and therefore increasing the reusability of the catalyst.
Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China.
Zuojun
Z
Wei
Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China.
Jiongtao
J
Lou
Research and Development Base of Catalytic Hydrogenation, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou, 310014, P.R. China.
Chuanmin
C
Su
Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China.
Dechao
D
Guo
Research and Development Base of Catalytic Hydrogenation, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou, 310014, P.R. China.
Yingxin
Y
Liu
School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 510 E. Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85287 ENGRC 279, USA.
Shuguang
S
Deng
D002384:Catalysis; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry*; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D016062:Porosity; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D007783:Lactones; D007982:Levulinic Acids; D012428:Ruthenium; D006859:Hydrogen; C037556:gamma-valerolactone; C032246:levulinic acid
embedding method; hydrogenolysis; levulinic acid; ruthenium; γ-valerolactone