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Abstract
We report the use of bimetallic catalysts supported on activated carbon (Ni–Mo/C, Cu–Mo/C, Zn–Mo/C, Fe–Mo/C) in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone (GVL).The catalysts were prepared by slurry impregnation and were characterized by different techniques.The catalytic tests, under batch reaction conditions and using 1,4-dioxane as solvent, revealed that the Ni–Mo/C showed the highest conversion and selectivity to GVL at 200 °C, 100 bar and 2 h of reaction time. The catalysts based on Zn–Mo and Fe–Mo were virtually inactive at the conditions used, whereas the Cu–Mo/C gave only moderate conversion. The results may be explained in terms of the reducibility of the metals on the supported catalysts. The use of methanol or water decreases the selectivity to GVL.
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1 Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; INCT Energia & Ambiente, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2 Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Escola de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3 Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Escola de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; INCT Energia & Ambiente, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil