We propose that c-valerolactone (GVL), a naturally occurring chemical in fruits and a frequently used food 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 (231 uC), high boiling (207 uC) and open cup flash (96 uC) points, a definitive but acceptable smell for easy recognition of leaks and spills, and is miscible with water, assisting biodegradation. We have established that its vapor pressure is remarkably low, even at higher temperatures (3.5 kPa at 80 uC). We have also shown by using 18 O-labeled water that GVL does not hydrolyze to gammahydroxypentanoic acid under neutral conditions. In contrast, after the addition of acid (HCl) the incorporation of one or two 18 O-isotopes to GVL was observed, as expected. GVL does not form a measurable amount of peroxides in a glass flask under air in weeks, making it a safe material for large scale use. Comparative evaluation of GVL and ethanol as fuel additives, performed on a mixture of 10 v/v% GVL or EtOH and 90 v/v% 95-octane gasoline, shows very similar properties. Since GVL does not form an azeotrope with water, the latter can be readily removed by distillation, resulting in a less energy demanding process for the production of GVL than that of absolute ethanol. Finally, it is also important to recognize that the use of a single chemical entity, such as GVL, as a sustainable liquid instead of a mixture of compounds, could significantly simplify its worldwide monitoring and regulation.

The multi-step conversion of sucrose to various C 5 -oxygenates and alkanes was achieved by integrating various homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems. We have confirmed that the dehydration of sucrose to levulinic and formic acids is currently limited to about 30-40% in the presence of H 2 SO 4 , HCl, or Nafion NR50 in water. Performing the dehydration in the presence of a P(m-C 6 H 4 SO 3 Na) 3 modified ruthenium catalyst under hydrogen resulted in the in situ conversion of levulinic acid to c-valerolactone (GVL). Levulinic acid can be hydrogenated to GVL quantitatively by using P(m-C 6 H 4 SO 3 Na) 3 modified ruthenium catalyst in water or Ru(acac) 3 /PBu 3 / NH 4 PF 6 catalyst in neat levulinic acid. Formic acid can be used for the transfer hydrogenation of levulinic acid in water in the presence of [(g 6 -C 6 Me 6 )Ru(bpy)(H 2 O)][SO 4 ] resulting in GVL and 1,4-pentanediol. The hydrogenation of levulinic acid or GVL can be performed to yield 1,4-pentanediol and/or 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran (2-Me-THF). The hydrogenolysis of 2-Me-THF in the presence of Pt(acac) 2 in CF 3 SO 3 H resulted in a mixture of alkanes. We have thus demonstrated that the conversion of carbohydrates to various C 5 -oxygenates and even to alkanes can be achieved by selecting the proper catalysts and conditions, which could provide a renewable platform for the chemical industry.

Carbon dioxide methanation is well known to offer some advantages and be catalyzed by Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ni. In this study, Ni catalysts supported on various metal oxides were fabricated and their catalytic activity for CO2 methanation was evaluated. The CO2 conversion for most of catalysts drastically increased at 225-250 ºC and reached a maximal value at 300-350 ºC. The order of CH4 yield at 250 ºC was as follows; Ni/Y2O3 > Ni/Sm2O3 > Ni/ZrO2 > Ni/CeO2 > Ni/Al2O3 > Ni/La2O3. The catalytic activity could be partly explained by the basic property of the catalysts. Moreover, the chemical species formed on the catalyst surface during CO2 methanation were examined by in situ infrared spectroscopy. From the obtained results, the difference in the activity depending on the support material of Ni catalysts was discussed.

Densities and viscosities have been measured for the binary mixtures of acetonitrile with linear and brached alkanols (C1−C4) over the entire composition range at (298.15, 303.15, 308.15, and 313.15) K. The experimental density (ρ) and viscosity (η) values were used to calculate the excess molar volume (V E) and viscosity deviation (Δη). The effects of chain length and branching of alkanols on V E and Δη values have been discussed. The V E and Δη values are fitted to a Redlich−Kister equation.

Ionic liquids containing the hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion are immiscible with water and they exhibit strong metal-complexing ability.