High-yield selective conversion of carbohydrates to methyl levulinate using mesoporous sulfated titania-based catalysts

Catalytic insights into the production of biomass-derived side products methyl levulinate, furfural and humins

“…In particular, the acid-base bifunctionality of the catalyst was effective in glucose isomerization and consequent dehydration. Njagi et al [45] further investigated mesoporous sulfated TiO 2 -based catalysts, comparing pristine TiO 2 and co-precipitated sulfated TiO 2 -ZrO 2 (TZ) (Zr content = 10-50%). Sulfated metal oxides with the highest percentage of Zr exhibited the highest catalytic activity in the production of methyl levulinate in methanol at 200 • C after 1 h. Significant yields of methyl levulinate were obtained from fructose (71%), sucrose (54%) and glucose (23%).…”

Iron(III)‐modified tungstophosphoric acid supported on silica‐pillared montmorillonite as catalysts for fructose conversion to methyl levulinate

“…Research on fructose conversion to ML was compared with other reported heterogeneous acids under respective optimized reaction conditions (Table ). It is observed that 65 mol% and 71 mol% of ML yield were obtained by sulfated montmorillonite and sulfated TiO 2 ‐ZrO 2, respectively, but a high temperature of 200°C was required and their catalytic activity was found to be greatly reduced after each run . For Amberlyst 15, Nafion NR50 and PD‐En‐SO 3 H, a very long reaction time (15 h) was necessary to achieve high ML yield (68–78 mol%) from fructose .…”

“…It is observed that 65 mol% and 71 mol% of ML yield were obtained by sulfated montmorillonite and sulfated TiO 2 -ZrO 2, respectively, but a high temperature of 200 ∘ C was required and their catalytic activity was found to be greatly reduced after each run. 8,24 For Amberlyst 15, Nafion NR50 and PD-En-SO 3 H, a very long reaction time (15 h) was necessary to achieve high ML yield (68-78 mol%) from fructose. 4 In this work, 4-HPWFe-MMTSi catalyst remarkably improved the reactions in terms of reaction temperature (down to 180 ∘ C) and reaction time (down to 1 h) with a comparable ML yield (around 74 mol%).…”

“…Therefore, researching and developing chemical or biological transformations converting biomass into different biofuels and feedstock chemicals has become an important part of exploring new energy sources in the world . Among these explorations of biomass energy, levulinate esters, owing to their unsaturated groups of carbonyls and esters, are versatile reaction intermediates and chemical feedstocks, and are widely used in the flavouring, fragrance, medical and plasticizer industries . Moreover, when added to biodiesel as a blending component, levulinate esters improve lubrication, low temperature fluidity and flash point stability of biodiesel to lower the sulfur contents and finally realize cleaner‐burning …”

“…[4][5][6] Among these explorations of biomass energy, levulinate esters, owing to their unsaturated groups of carbonyls and esters, are versatile reaction intermediates and chemical feedstocks, and are widely used in the flavouring, fragrance, medical and plasticizer industries. [7][8][9] Moreover, when added to biodiesel as a blending component, levulinate esters improve lubrication, low temperature fluidity and flash point stability of biodiesel to lower the sulfur contents and finally realize cleaner-burning. 10 In previous research, using an inorganic liquid acid (especially sulfuric acid) as catalyst was the most common method for levulinate esters production.…”