IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v6y2015i1d10.1038_ncomms7540.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

High performing and stable supported nano-alloys for the catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone

Author

Listed:
  • Wenhao Luo

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99)

  • Meenakshisundaram Sankar

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99)

  • Andrew M. Beale

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99
    UK Catalysis Hub, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
    University College London)

  • Qian He

    (Lehigh University)

  • Christopher J. Kiely

    (Lehigh University)

  • Pieter C. A. Bruijnincx

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99)

  • Bert M. Weckhuysen

    (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99)

Abstract

The catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid, a key platform molecule in many biorefinery schemes, into γ-valerolactone is considered as one of the pivotal reactions to convert lignocellulose-based biomass into renewable fuels and chemicals. Here we report on the development of highly active, selective and stable supported metal catalysts for this reaction and on the beneficial effects of metal nano-alloying. Bimetallic random alloys of gold-palladium and ruthenium-palladium supported on titanium dioxide are prepared with a modified metal impregnation method. Gold-palladium/titanium dioxide shows a marked,~27-fold increase in activity (that is, turnover frequency of 0.1 s−1) compared with its monometallic counterparts. Although ruthenium-palladium/titanium dioxide is not only exceptionally active (that is, turnover frequency of 0.6 s−1), it shows excellent, sustained selectivity to γ-valerolactone (99%). The dilution and isolation of ruthenium by palladium is thought to be responsible for this superior catalytic performance. Alloying, furthermore, greatly improves the stability of both supported nano-alloy catalysts.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenhao Luo & Meenakshisundaram Sankar & Andrew M. Beale & Qian He & Christopher J. Kiely & Pieter C. A. Bruijnincx & Bert M. Weckhuysen, 2015. "High performing and stable supported nano-alloys for the catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7540
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7540
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms7540
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/ncomms7540?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yu, Zhihao & Lu, Xuebin & Liu, Chen & Han, Yiwen & Ji, Na, 2019. "Synthesis of γ-valerolactone from different biomass-derived feedstocks: Recent advances on reaction mechanisms and catalytic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 140-157.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7540. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.