Zr supported on non-acidic sepiolite for the efficient one-pot transformation of furfural into ?-valerolactone

The growing demand of energy needs the search for alternative sources different to fossil fuels. use biomass as source is one most studied, because there are high value products that can be produced from biomass. One these ?-valerolactone, obtained furfural, which a derived product. To transform furfural into ?-valerolactone necessary bifunctional catalyst and hydrogen source. In this work, was using 2-propanol solvent donor on Zr supported sepiolite catalysts. It demonstrated sepiolite, cheap material, used develop efficient catalysts produce yields in one-pot. presented highest yield were ones with intermediate Zr-content (9–17 wt% ZrO2). TOFs have been by those Zr-loading up 9 ZrO2, ZrO2 nanoparticles well dispersed support no formation large clusters has observed. Lewis Brønsted acid sites essential reactions one-pot, although present low concentration observed A possible positive role basic promote some steps also proposed. catalytic results order zeolitic supports.