Formic acid assisted hydrogenation of levulinic acid to -valerolactone over ordered mesoporous Cu/Fe_2O_3 catalyst prepared by hard template method

Vapor phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid using formic acid as a hydrogen source has been conducted over ordered mesoporous Cu/Fe_2O_3 catalysts prepared by hard template method using mesoporous silica, SBA-15. X-ray diffraction result reveals the absence of copper peaks because of either highly dispersed state, or formation of a solid solution with iron oxides. The N_2 sorption analysis and TEM results indicate the retainment of mesoporous nature in the samples. Among the catalysts tested, 10 (wt