Oriented conversion of γ-Valerolactone to gasoline range fuels via integrated catalytic system

Abstract γ-Valerolactone (GVL) is one of a promising and versatile platform compounds, derived from renewable biomass, that could be widely used as key raw materials for the production of high value-added chemicals and energy fuels. Here, we report the oriented transformation of GVL into gasoline range hydrocarbons through an integrated two-stage fixed-bed catalytic system. The catalytic upgrading strategy involved the GVL feeds converting to butene isomers mixture and CO2 by ring-opening and decarboxylation without use of external H2 over SiO2-Al2O3 catalyst, coupled with the oligomerization of butene isomers intermediates to gasoline fuels over the nano-HZSM-5 catalyst. This integrated two-stage processes could greatly simplify the products separation, avoid the incompatibility of their reaction conditions, and effectively improve the catalytic stability. The selectivity and yield for target C5−12 gasoline range fuels was high as 82.2 % and 58.7 %, respectively, and no obvious deactivation was observed with time on stream of 50 h.