@article { ISI:000302018600031,
	title = {Cu-ZrO2 nanocomposite catalyst for selective hydrogenation of levulinic acid and its ester to gamma-valerolactone},
	journal = {Green Chemistry},
	volume = {14},
	number = {4},
	year = {2012},
	month = {FEB},
	pages = {1064-1072},
	publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY},
	type = {Article},
	address = {THOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {<p>Several copper based catalysts were prepared, characterized and evaluated for the hydrogenation of levulinic acid and its methyl ester. Among these, nanocomposites of Cu-ZrO2 and Cu-Al2O3 quantitatively catalyzed the hydrogenation of levulinic acid and its methyl ester to give 90-100\% selectivity to gamma-valerolactone in methanol and water respectively. Both the Cu-ZrO2 and Cu-Al2O3 nanocomposites were prepared by the co-precipitation method using mixed precursors under controlled conditions. XRD results showed that the main active phase of the reduced Cu-ZrO2 catalyst was metallic copper and particle size was found to be of 10-14 nm by HRTEM. The active metal leaching was at a maximum for the Cu-Al2O3 catalyst in a water medium due to the formation of a copper-carboxylate complex that was blue in colour. Surprisingly, copper leaching was completely suppressed in the case of the Cu-ZrO2 catalyst in methanol in spite of the substrate loading was increased from 5 to 20\% w/w. The excellent recyclability of the Cu-ZrO2 catalyst with complete LA conversion and \&gt; 90\% GVL selectivity makes it a sustainable process having a commercial potential.</p>},
	issn = {1463-9262},
	doi = {10.1039/c2gc16558a},
	author = {Hengne, Amol M. and Rode, Chandrashekhar V.}
}
