Continuous flow hydrogenation of methyl and ethyl levulinate: an alternative route to γ -valerolactone production.

Autor: Tukacs JM; Department of Chemical and Environmental Process Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, Budapest H-1111, Hungary., Sylvester Á; Department of Chemical and Environmental Process Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, Budapest H-1111, Hungary., Kmecz I; Department of Chemical and Environmental Process Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, Budapest H-1111, Hungary., Jones RV; ThalesNano Nanotechnology Inc, Záhony u. 7, Budapest H-1031, Hungary., Óvári M; MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute for Danube Research, Karolina u. 29, Budapest H-1113, Hungary., Mika LT; Department of Chemical and Environmental Process Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, Budapest H-1111, Hungary.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Royal Society open science [R Soc Open Sci] 2019 May 01; Vol. 6 (5), pp. 182233. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 May 01 (Print Publication: 2019).
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.182233
Abstrakt: Heterogeneous continuous transformation of methyl levulinate (ML) and ethyl levulinate (EL) to γ -valerolactone (GVL), as a promising C 5 -platform molecule was studied at 100°C. It was proved that the H-Cube ® continuous hydrogenation system equipped with 5% Ru/C CatCart ® is suitable for the reduction of both levulinate esters. While excellent conversion rates (greater than 99.9%) of ML and EL could be achieved in water and corresponding alcohols, the selectivities of GVL were primarily affected by the solvent used. In water, 100% conversion and ca 50% selectivity that represent ca 0.45 mol GVL g metal -1 h -1 productivity towards GVL, were obtained under 100 bar of total system pressure. The application of alcohols as a solvent, which maintained high conversion rates up to 1 ml min -1 flow rate, resulted in lower productivities (less than 0.2 mol GVL g metal -1 h -1 ) of GVL. Therefore, from a synthesis point of view, the corresponding 4-hydroxyvalerate esters could be obtained even at a higher reaction rate. The addition of sulfonated triphenylphosphine ligand (TPPTS) allowed reduction of the system pressure and resulted in the higher selectivity towards GVL.
Competing Interests: Authors have no competing interests.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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