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

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 -valerolactone (GVL). It is shown that synthesized catalyst 5% Ru/MN100 ensures a GVL yield above 99% under mild reaction conditions (90 degrees C; hydrogen partial pressure, 2 MPa) in an aqueous medium and can compete with commercial catalyst 5% Ru/C.