Tuning the properties and thermal treatment of Aquivion®/oxide hybrid catalysts for the one-pot production of γ-valerolactone from furfuryl alcohol

gamma-Valerolactone (GVL) has transpired as a precursor to valuable chemicals, a fuel additive and an eco-friendly solvent. Herein, Aquivion (R)/oxide hybrid catalysts were prepared by an innovative spray freeze-drying method, tuning acid site distribution in the materials and exploring an approach to GVL synthesis from furfuryl alcohol (FAL) by employing non-noble metals. SiO2, TiO2 and ZrO2 were selected because of their increasing Lewis acidity, a key factor in promoting catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH). A thorough study on thermal stability through TGA, MAS NMR, porosimetry, SEM-EDX and experimental testing unveiled their resistance to thermal treatments and its influence on catalytic performances. In this study, it is shown how the optimal thermal treatment conditions for the composite materials vary depending on the acid properties of the supporting oxide.