Levulinic acid hydrogenation to γ-valerolactone over single Ru atoms on a TiO2@nitrogen doped carbon support

The transformation of levulinic acid (LA) into gamma-valerolactone (GVL) in water at room temperature is very interesting. In this work, we designed and prepared single Ru atoms on a TiO2@nitrogen doped porous carbon support catalyst (Ru/TiO2@CN). It was demonstrated that the catalyst had very high activity, selectivity and stability for the conversion of LA into GVL at room temperature in water. The turnover frequency (TOF) could reach 278 mol(GVL) mol(Ru)(-1) h(-1) at complete conversion, which was about 35 times higher than that of commercial Ru/C. In addition, only GVL was generated in the reaction over the catalyst of this work.

Automated summary

By designing and preparing a Ru single-atom catalyst, the conversion of levulinic acid into gamma-valerolactone with high activity, selectivity, and stability at room temperature in water was achieved. The turnover frequency (TOF) was increased by 35 times compared to commercial Ru/C, and only gamma-valerolactone was produced over the catalyst in this study.