One-Pot 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran Production from Levulinic Acid in Green Solvents Using Ni-Cu/Al2 O3 Catalysts

The one-pot hydrogenation of levulinic acid to 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) was performed using a series of Ni-Cu/Al2 O3 catalysts in green solvents, such as water and biomass-derived alcohols. Ni/Al2 O3 provided the highest activity, whereas Cu/Al2 O3 was the most selective, reaching a 75 % MTHF yield at 250 °C after 24 h reaction time. Synergetic effects were observed when bimetallic Ni-Cu/Al2 O3 catalysts were used, reaching a 56 % MTHF yield in 5 h at 250 °C for the optimum Ni/Cu ratio. Remarkably, these high yields were obtained using non-noble metal-based catalysts and 2-propanol as the solvent. The catalytic activity and selectivity results are correlated to temperature programmed reduction (TPR), XRD, and STEM characterization data, identifying the role associated with mixed Ni-Cu particles in addition to monometallic Cu and Ni.