Reaction pathways and kinetics governing the aqueous-phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) were considered in a packed bed reactor. Over Ru/C at temperatures below 423K, LA hydrogenation yields ?-valerolactone (GVL) via intermediate esterification of 4-hydroxypentanoic acid (HPA). Reasonable rates of LA hydrogenation were observed at near-ambient temperatures (e.g., 0.08 s-1 at 323K); however, HPA esterification rates are appreciably slower such that GVL selectivities are poor (<5%) at low temperatures. We have observed that GVL selectivity can be enhanced under mild conditions by adding Br�nsted acidity to the catalytic system. Specifically, stacked beds of Ru/C and Amberlyst-15 deliver high GVL yields (~80%) at near ambient temperatures (323 K) and practical residence times. Ru/C is observed to deactivate strongly during aqueous phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid, and only a portion of the activity loss is reversible.

Kinetics of g-valerolactone formation during aqueous phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid over supported Ru

248th National Meeting (2014)

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