Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) can be viewed as a key intermediate for the conversion of biomass-derived acetone–the by-product of biobutanol production–to transportation fuel. Zeolite H-ZSM-5 doped with Pt nanoparticles was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for gas-phase hydrogenation of MIBK to methylpentanes with> 99% yield at 200° C. The reaction proceeds via bifunctional metal-acid catalysed pathway involving MIBK ...