Abstract
Unsupported nickel phosphide catalyst containing Ni2P phase was applied in the hydrodeoxygenation of ethyl levulinate in ethanol medium for the first time. The obtained catalyst was investigated by XRF, XRD, NH3–TPD, XPS and TEM techniques. γ-valerolactone and ethyl valerate were obtained as the hydrodeoxygenation products. Varying the temperature and the reaction time it was possible to obtain these products with high selectivity. γ-valerolactone was selectively formed at 200–250 °C and ethyl valerate was selectively formed at temperatures of 300–350 °C. Increase in reaction time was contributed to ethyl valerate formation. The highest selectivity of ethyl valerate was 100% at full ethyl levulinate conversion at 350 °C after 6 h. 100% γ-valerolactone selectivity was reached at low conversion of ethyl levulinate. The highest yield of γ-valerolactone reached 41.7% after 6 h of the reaction at 250 °C. The selectivity of γ-valerolactone was 86.9% and the conversion of ethyl levulinate was 48.0%.
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