Nanostructured Nickel/Silica Catalysts for Continuous Flow Conversion of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone.

ABSTRACT: Selective transformation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) using novel heterogeneous catalysts is one of the promising strategies for viable biomass processing. In this framework, we developed a continuous flow process for the selective hydrogenation of LA to GVL using several nanostructured Ni/SiO₂ catalysts. The structural, textural, acidic, and redox properties of Ni/SiO₂ catalysts, tuned by selectively varying the Ni amount from 5 to 40 wt %, were critically investigated using numerous materials characterization techniques. Electron microscopy images showed the formation of uniformly dispersed Ni nanoparticles on the SiO₂ support, up to 30% Ni loading (average particle size is 9.2 nm), followed by a drastic increase in the particles size (

SUBMITTER: Mallesham B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6644063 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature