Selective synthesis of γ-valerolactone from levulinic and formic acid over ZnAl mixed oxide

摘要: Abstract After testing different mixed oxides, a very promising catalyst to obtain γ-valerolactone from levulinic acid and formic is proposed in this work: ZnAl hydrotalcite-derived material. Optimum conditions (T = 140 °C, FA/LA = 5/1, aqueous phase stirred batch reactor) excel results previously the literature, combining high activity (>87%) selectivity (90% GVL yield) with remarkable stability, reaction being performed at mild using highly available cheap catalyst. A detailed mechanistic its kinetic study was accomplished for optimum catalyst, considering that decomposition limiting step following second–order kinetic, FA dehydration AL pseudo-first–order reversible step. Angelica-lactone identified as main by–product precursor formation of light organic deposits, responsible slight deactivation observed during experiments absence reactivation procedure.