Gamma-valerolactone (GVL), as sustainable feedstock for high-value chemicals and fuel, has been produced by hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) or ethyl levulinate (EL). In this work, Pd nanoparticles supported on Nb2O5-doped activated carbon (AC) were prepared via wet incipient impregnation with PdCl2 followed by reduction with NaBH4. The dispersed niobia plays a bifunctional role in the catalytic process: stabilizing Pd nanoparticles and acting as an acidic co-catalyst. This synergistic effect between niobia and Pd leads to an unprecedented high activity of supported Pd catalysts in EL hydrogenation. The synergy is correlated with both the niobia loading and calcination temperature, with 10 wt% Nb2O5 calcined at 500 °C showing the best performance (EL conversion of 87% and GVL selectivity of 97%) under mild reaction conditions (100 °C and 0.5 MPa H2).
