A sustainable process for the production of 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol by hydrogenation of biomass-derived itaconic acid

• Pd–ReOx/C are efficient in itaconic acid hydrogenation.
• Pd and ReOx species interacted with each other in Pd–ReOx/C.
• A yield of 80% 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol could be obtained over Pd–ReOx/C.
• Pd–ReOx/C catalysts exhibited excellent recyclability in IA hydrogenation.

Pd–ReOx/C catalysts with different Re contents were prepared and employed to catalyze the aqueous hydrogenation of itaconic acid in this study. The Pd–ReOx/C catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, BET, NH3-TPD and H2-TPR. Results showed that the addition of ReOx species in supported Pd catalysts promoted the direct conversion of itaconic acid to 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol. The promoting effect was ascribed to the interaction between Pd and ReOx species, as has been proved by the characterizations. A 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol yield of above 80% could be obtained over Pd–3ReOx/C under the reaction condition of 180 °C, 4 MPa H2.

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