IJCEA 2024 Vol.15(1): 32-35
doi: 10.18178/ijcea.2024.15.1.812
Utilization of Ni-based Bimetal Oxide Catalysts for the Synthesis of γ-valerolactone via Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation
Worapak Tanwongwan1, Sanchai Kuboon2, Wasawat Kraithong2, and Apiluck Eiad-ua1,*
1. College of Materials Innovation and Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand
2. National Nanotechnology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
Email: w.tanwongwan@gmail.com (W.T.); sanchai@nanotec.or.th (S.K.); wasawat@nanotec.or.th (W.K.); apiluck.ei@kmitl.ac.th (A.E.)
*Corresponding author
Manuscript received July 7, 2023; revised October 18, 2023; accepted January 31, 2023; published June 27, 2024
Abstract—g-Valerolactone (GVL) is an organic compound that shows its great potential in the energy and polymer industries. Previously, Raney-nickel was employed as an effective catalyst for producing GVL from various types of levulinate esters. However, the high temperature required for the synthesis of Raney-nickel (about 1000 ºC) and its complex pretreatment and storage steps are the main drawbacks of this catalyst. In this study, GVL can be produced via catalytic transfer hydrogenation from methyl levulinate on Ni-based bimetallic oxide catalysts which are used instead Raney-nickel. These bimetallic oxide catalysts are prepared at lower temperatures and do not require pretreatment before their use. Among different bimetallic oxide systems, nickel-copper oxide catalyst shows the best catalytic performance with 100% methyl levulinate conversion and more than 95% GVL yield. The study of the influences of the catalyst-supporting material indicates that the supporting materials significantly affect to catalytic behavior of nickel-copper oxide catalysts which can maintain the catalytic ability although the catalyst content was reduced. Nevertheless, all supporting materials includes Al
2O
3, SiO
2, and MgO affect the similar ability of nickel-copper oxide catalysts even though the surface area of a supported catalyst were significantly different according to SEM results.
Keywords—GVL, methyl levulinate, catalytic transfer hydrogenation, bimetallic oxide catalysts
[PDF]
Cite: Worapak Tanwongwan, Sanchai Kuboon, Wasawat Kraithong, and Apiluck Eiad-ua, "Utilization of Ni-based Bimetal Oxide Catalysts for the Synthesis of γ-valerolactone via Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation," International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 32-35, 2024.
