The Use of the Ru-Containing Catalyst Based on Hypercrosslinked Polystyrene in the Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone

Abstract

RuO₂ particles stabilized in a polymeric matrix of hypercrosslinked polystyrene of MN100 type (5% Ru/MN100) are characterized by physicochemical methods (low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy), and the catalytic activity of these particles is studied in the reaction of selective hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL). It is shown that synthesized catalyst 5% Ru/MN100 ensures a GVL yield above 99% under mild reaction conditions (90°C; hydrogen partial pressure, 2 MPa) in an aqueous medium and can compete with commercial catalyst 5% Ru/C.