Conversion of furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinate using porous aluminosilicate acid catalysts

• Published in: Catalysis today Vol. 218-219; pp. 76 - 84
• Main Authors: Neves, Patrícia, Lima, Sérgio, Pillinger, Martyn, Rocha, Sílvia M., Rocha, João, Valente, Anabela A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-12-2013
• Subjects: Acid catalysis; Aluminosilicates; Amberlyst-15; By-product identification; Ethyl levulinate; Furfuryl alcohol; Aluminosilicates; Amberlyst-15; Acid catalysis; By-product identification; Furfuryl alcohol; Ethyl levulinate
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2013.04.035

•Conversion of furfuryl alcohol into ethyl levulinate using aluminosilicate acid catalysts.•Identification of reaction products by GC×GC-ToFMS analyses.•Ether, acetal, ester by-products from the non-productive consumption of ethanol.•Comparative study of catalytic performances of aluminosilicates and Amberlyst™-15.
The following porous aluminosilicates were tested as acid catalysts in the reaction of furfuryl alcohol (FA) with ethanol, at 140°C: micro/mesoporous composite Beta/TUD-1 and the correspondent nanocrystalline (large pore) zeolite H-Beta; ITQ-2 and its zeolite counterpart (medium pore) H-MCM-22; mesoporous Al-TUD-1. The target product ethyl levulinate (EL) was formed with a yield up to 80%, at 24h reaction (100% FA conversion). Relationships between the catalytic results and the acid and texture properties of the catalysts were established. Comparative studies for the aluminosilicates and the well-known sulfonic acid resin Amberlyst™-15 were reported on the basis of EL yields, the undesirable formation of diethyl ether, and catalyst stability (regeneration and reuse). A study of the reaction products was carried out by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry.