γ-Valerolactone—a sustainable liquid for energy and carbon-based chemicals

* Corresponding authors

a Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, Budapest, Hungary
E-mail:istvan.t.horvath@att.net

b MOL Plc, DS Development, Százhalombatta, Hungary

Abstract

We propose thatγ-valerolactone (GVL), a naturally occurring chemical in fruits and a frequently usedfood additive, exhibits the most important characteristics of an ideal sustainable liquid, which could be used for the production of both energy and carbon-based consumer products. GVL is renewable, easy and safe to store and move globally in large quantities, has low melting (−31 °C), high boiling (207 °C) and open cup flash (96 °C) points, a definitive but acceptable smell for easy recognition of leaks and spills, and is miscible withwater, assisting biodegradation. We have established that its vapor pressure is remarkably low, even at higher temperatures (3.5 kPa at 80 °C). We have also shown by using18O-labeledwater that GVL does not hydrolyze togamma-hydroxypentanoic acid under neutral conditions. In contrast, after the addition of acid (HCl) the incorporation of one or two18O-isotopes to GVL was observed, as expected. GVL does not form a measurable amount ofperoxides in a glass flask under air in weeks, making it a safe material for large scale use. Comparative evaluation of GVL andethanol asfuel additives, performed on a mixture of 10 v/v% GVL orEtOH and 90 v/v% 95-octane gasoline, shows very similar properties. Since GVL does not form an azeotrope withwater, the latter can be readily removed bydistillation, resulting in a less energy demanding process for the production of GVL than that of absoluteethanol. Finally, it is also important to recognize that the use of a singlechemical entity, such as GVL, as a sustainable liquid instead of a mixture of compounds, could significantly simplify its worldwide monitoring and regulation.

Graphical abstract: γ-Valerolactone—a sustainable liquid for energy and carbon-based chemicals

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Aug 2007
Accepted
13 Nov 2007
First published
04 Dec 2007

Green Chem., 2008,10, 238-242

γ-Valerolactone—a sustainable liquid for energy and carbon-based chemicals

I. T. Horváth, H. Mehdi, V. Fábos, L. Boda and L. T. Mika,Green Chem., 2008, 10, 238DOI: 10.1039/B712863K

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