Production of γ-valerolactone from methyl levulinate via catalytic transfer hydrogenation on nickel-copper oxide catalyst

Abstract

γ-Valerolactone (GVL) is successfully produced via catalytic transfer hydrogenation from methyl levulinate on nickel copper oxide catalysts with the comparable result to that of Raney-nickel. This catalyst is prepared at lower temperature (lower than 1000ºC) and pretreatment is not required before its use. Among different calcination temperature, Ni-Cu-O which synthesis at 700ºC shows the best catalytic performance with 100% methyl levulinate conversion and more than 95% GVL yield and characterization result was shows this calcination temperature was affect catalyst to highest crystallization and surface area. The study of atomic ratio effect indicates that nickel-copper oxide which had nickel oxide more than copper oxide is better for this reaction.