Efficient hydrogenation of levulinic acid in water using a supported Ni-Sn alloy on aluminium hydroxide catalysts

Efficient hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) into gamma-valerolactone (GVL) in water using highly dispersed Ni-Sn(x)/AlOH (x = Ni/Sn ratio) was studied. Increasing the Sn amount in the Ni-Sn alloy up to 2.14 mmol g(-1) enhanced the yield of GVL, which slightly decreased when the Sn content was nearly 4 mmol g(-1) (feeding Ni/Sn = 1.0). A stoichiometric amount of GVL (>99%) was achieved by using Ni-Sn(x)/AlOH (x = 3.0 and 1.4) at 393 K for 120 min in H2O. H-2-treated Ni-Sn(1.4)/AlOH consisting of Ni3Sn2 alloy species showed high selectivity towards GVL (>99% yield). The Ni-Sn(1.4)/AlOH catalyst was reusable for at least six consecutive runs without any significant loss of activity and selectivity.