Catalytic Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid in Water into g-Valerolactone over Bulk Structure of Inexpensive Intermetallic Ni-Sn Alloy Catalysts

<p>A bulk structure of inexpensive intermetallic nickel-tin (Ni-Sn) alloys catalysts demonstrated highly selective in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid in water into g-valerolactone. The intermetallic Ni-Sn catalysts were synthesized via a very simple thermochemical method from non-organometallic precursor at low temperature followed by hydrogen treatment at 673 K for 90 min. The molar ratio of nickel salt and tin salt was varied to obtain the corresponding Ni/Sn ratio of 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, 1.5, and 0.75. The formation of Ni-Sn alloy species was mainly depended on the composition and temperature of H₂ treatment. Intermetallics Ni-Sn that contain Ni₃Sn, Ni₃Sn₂, and Ni₃Sn₄ alloy phases are known to be effective heterogeneous catalysts for levulinic acid hydrogenation giving very excellence g-valerolactone yield of &gt;99% at 433 K, initial H₂ pressure of 4.0 MPa within 6 h. The effective hydrogenation was obtained in H₂O without the formation of by-product. Intermetallic Ni-Sn(1.5) that contains Ni₃Sn₂ alloy species demonstrated very stable and reusable catalyst without any significant loss of its selectivity. © 2015 BCREC UNDIP. All rights reserved.</p> <p><em>Received: 26th February 2015; Revised: 16th April 2015; Accepted: 22nd April 2015</em></p> <p> </p><p><strong>How to Cite</strong>: Rodiansono, R., Astuti, M.D., Ghofur, A., Sembiring, K.C. (2015). Catalytic Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid in Water into g-Valerolactone over Bulk Structure of Inexpensive Intermetallic Ni-Sn Alloy Catalysts. <em>Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering &amp; Catalysis</em>, 10 (2): 192-200. (doi:10.9767/bcrec.10.2.8284.192-200)</p><p><strong>Permalink/DOI</strong>: http://dx.doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.10.2.8284.192-200</p> <p>