<p>Gamma
(γ)-valerolactone (GVL) is a promising liquid for energy and carbon-based
chemicals. Although many researches regarding the GVL synthesis from
carbohydrate biomass, most of them involve the use of noble metals accompanying
with the high-purity and high-pressure gaseous hydrogen, existing high cost in
large-scale application and safety risk during the transportation and operation
process. In this paper, the cheap metal Fe was employed as a reductant for
splitting water to produce hydrogen under mild hydrothermal conditions, and commercial
Raney Ni was used as a catalyst for in
situ hydrogenation of biomass-derived levulinic acid (LA). More than 95% yield of GVL can
be attained at 150 <sup>o</sup>C for 2 h and ~ 90% yield of GVL was also
achieved at 100 <sup>o</sup>C by increasing the reaction time to 5 h.
Furthermore, Raney Ni remains the stable catalytic activity after being
recycled for 4 times at 150 <sup>o</sup>C. This work provides a safe and facile
process for highly efficient hydrogenation of biomass-derived LA to GVL without
precious metals.</p>