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

authors	Neves, P; Lima, S; Pillinger, M; Rocha, SM; Rocha, J; Valente, AA
nationality	International
journal	CATALYSIS TODAY
author keywords	Furfuryl alcohol; Ethyl levulinate; Acid catalysis; Aluminosilicates; Amberlyst-15; By-product identification
keywords	TRANSPORTATION FUELS; VOLATILE COMPOUNDS; BIOMASS; ETHANOL; AROMA; XYLOSE; 1,1-DIETHOXYETHANE; ETHERIFICATION; IDENTIFICATION; DIMETHYLFURAN
abstract	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 24 h 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 AmberlystTm-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. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
publisher	ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
issn	0920-5861
year published	2013
volume	218
beginning page	76
ending page	84
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1016/j.cattod.2013.04.035
web of science category	Chemistry, Applied; Chemistry, Physical; Engineering, Chemical
subject category	Chemistry; Engineering
unique article identifier	WOS:000327197000012