Silicalite‐1 Encapsulated Cu‐Based Catalyst for Selective Hydrogenation of Maleic Anhydride to γ‐Butyrolactone

Abstract γ‐Butyrolactone (GBL) is a crucial product derived from the hydrogenation of maleic anhydride (MA). This study synthesized a Cu@Silicalite‐1 (Cu@S1) catalyst with 20 % Cu loading through a combination of impregnation and solid‐phase synthesis methods. The impact of Cu and Silicalite‐1 zeolite binding techniques on the MA hydrogenation was systematically investigated. The results show MA conversion of 96.2 % and GBL selectivity of 27.6 % at 240 °C, with sustained catalytic activity even after 150 hours of propionic acid corrosion on the Cu@S1 catalyst. The Silicalite‐1 zeolite plays a pivotal role in enhancing MA selective hydrogenation over Cu‐based catalysts, improving GBL selectivity, and minimizing the formation of propionic acid by‐products. The encapsulation of Cu particles by Silicalite‐1 zeolite facilitates improved dispersion of the metal and enhanced adsorption of reactants, thereby serving as a valuable catalyst for enhancing the acid and water resistance in GBL production.