Production of γ-Valerolactone from levulinic acid via selected transfer hydrogenation pathway by FeAl-framework ZSM-5 supporting ZrO2

• Fe-Al co-framework nanosheet ZSM-5 supported loading ZrO 2 is prepared. • Hierarchical pore facilitates Zr dispersion, thus enhancing isopropanol adsorption. • Defective Fe in the zeolite activates isopropanol to generate active hydrogen. • HPA forms by direct transfer hydrogenation followed by lactonization to form GVL. • Zr/Fe 2 Al 2 -SP catalyst achieve GVL production rate of 51.3 mmol·g –1 ·h –1. Fe-Al co-framework nanosheet ZSM-5 zeolite supported with ZrO 2 catalysts (Zr/FeAl-SP) were prepared for the production of γ-valerolactone (GVL) from levulinic acid (LA) via catalytic transfer hydrogenation using isopropanol as H-donor. The hierarchical pores facilitate the dispersion of Zr active sites, enhancing the adsorption of isopropanol. Different from the conventional esterification of LA with the formation of alkyl-levulinate, the defective Fe in the zeolite framework interacts with Zr, which activates isopropanol, generating active hydrogen. This process promotes the formation of 4-hydroxypentanoic acid (HPA) through direct transfer hydrogenation, followed by the lactonization of HPA to form GVL. The synthesized Zr/Fe 2 Al 2 -SP catalyst achieve a high GVL production rate of 51.3 mmol·g –1 ·h –1 with a GVL yield of 89.2 wt% after just 1-hour of reaction at 170°C, with good catalytic stability.