Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Alkyl Lactates to Alkyl Propionates with Fe‐based Bimetallic Supported Catalysts. Issue 4 (8th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khokarale, Santosh Govind; He, Jian; Schill, Leonhard; Yang, Song; Riisager, Anders; Saravanamurugan, Shunmugavel
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 11:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 681
• Page End: 687
• Publication Date: 2018-02-08
• Subjects: alkyl lactate -- alkyl propionate -- base-metal catalysts -- heterogeneous catalysis -- value-added chemicals; Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201702411
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

Abstract: Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of methyl lactate (ML) to methyl propionate (MP) was performed with various base‐metal supported catalysts. A high yield of 77 % MP was obtained with bimetallic Fe–Ni/ZrO2 in methanol at 220 °C and 50 bar H2 . A synergistic effect of Ni increased the yield of MP significantly when using Fe–Ni/ZrO2 instead of Fe/ZrO2 alone. Moreover, the ZrO2 support contributed to improve the yield as a phase transition of ZrO2 from tetragonal to monoclinic occurred after metal doping giving rise to fine dispersion of the Fe and Ni on the ZrO2, resulting in a higher catalytic activity of the material. Interestingly, it was observed that Fe–Ni/ZrO2 also effectively catalyzed methanol reforming to produce H2 in situ, followed by HDO of ML, yielding 60 % MP at 220 °C with 50 bar N2 instead of H2 . Fe–Ni/ZrO2 also catalyzed HDO of other short‐chain alkyl lactates to the corresponding alkyl propionates in high yields around 70 %. No loss of activity of Fe–Ni/ZrO2 occurred in five consecutive reaction runs demonstrating the high durability of the catalyst system. Abstract : Hydrogenolysis : A high yield of methyl propionate (77 %) from methyl lactate is obtained with the base‐metal containing catalyst Fe‐Ni/ZrO2 in methanol in the presence of H2 atmosphere through hydrodeoxygenation and methanol–hydrogen transfer reactions.