Mild production of γ-valerolactone, a biofuel precursor, through the catalytic hydrogenation of a biomass derivative using hydrogen produced by photoelectrochemical water splitting
Adrián García, Elianny Da Silva, María Erans, R.M. Fernández‐Domene, Rita Sánchez‐Tovar, Benjamín Solsona
Abstract
In this article, an efficient and innovative coupled system that involves hydrogen generation from water and hydrogenation of a biomass derived compound is shown for the first time. We have demonstrated that it is possible to use hydrogen produced from photoelectrochemical water splitting for the hydrogenation of a widely available biomass-derived compound (levulinic acid) into a versatile fuel component and/or precursor (γ-valerolactone). This compound, conversely to hydrogen, can be easily stored and handled. The photoelectrocatalyst selected was a TiO2 nanostructure synthesized by electrochemical anodization. The hydrogen produced was simultaneously used to carry out a hydrogenation reaction to transform levulinic acid into γ-valerolactone. The generated hydrogen was transferred to a catalytic reactor containing an aqueous solution of levulinic acid (LA) in the presence of a Ru based catalyst. Remarkable formation of γ-valerolactone (GVL) was obtained at temperatures as low as 30–60 °C. Yields to GVL of ca. 95 % have been obtained with this novel coupled system at only 60 °C. These results confirm the potential utilization in the biomass valorization of in-situ hydrogen production by photoelectrochemical water splitting.