Selective hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone over a Ru/Mg–LaO catalyst

Abstract

Ruthenium supported on magnesium–lanthanum mixed oxide (Ru/Mg–LaO) obtained from Mg–La hydrotalcite (a base support) catalyzes the hydrogenation of biomass derived levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL). The conversion of LA to GVL in toluene was found to be 92% with the selectivity >99% at 80 °C and 0.5 MPa hydrogen pressure in 4 h. It is the first example on the basic support under mild reaction conditions. The Ru nanoparticles on the Mg–LaO support exhibited excellent GVL yields for 5 cycles, making it a sustainable process.