Selective Conversion of Concentrated Feeds of Furfuryl Alcohol to Alkyl Levulinates Catalyzed by Metal Triflates

Abstract

Herein, we describe an efficient and recyclable catalytic system based on metal triflates capable of converting highly concentrated feeds of furfuryl alcohol (30−40 wt %) to alkyl levulinates in excellent yields (>90%). This constitutes a unique and important advance in the field. Indeed, the dilution of feedstocks represent one of the major bottlenecks in catalysis for the industrial deployment of biobased fuels and chemicals in our society. The impact of water in the metal triflates catalytic performances is also discussed. A comparison with a commercialized process (SFOS) shows that this catalytic route is in line with industrial requirements in terms of yield, selectivity, reactor productivity, and capacity. In particular, unprecedented space time yields up to 200 kg m −3 h −1 were obtained.

Sulfated Zirconia with Different Crystal Phases for the Production of Ethyl Levulinate and 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural

“…Over the past decade, a number of acid catalysts have been developed to efficiently catalyze the various acid‐catalyzed reactions . Homogeneous acid catalysts (HCl, H 2 SO 4 , etc.)…”

“…[19][20][21] Over the past decade, a number of acid catalysts have been developed to efficiently catalyze the various acid-catalyzed reactions. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Homogeneous acid catalysts (HCl, H 2 SO 4 , etc.) exhibit good catalytic performance due to their homogeneous distribution in protic solvent.…”

Switching Selectivity in the Hydrogen Transfer Reduction of Furfural

“…In this particular case a competitive reaction, namely the formation of butyl levulinate, should be controlled as also this one is catalyzed by Lewis acids. Thus, the reaction of FOL and butanol in the presence of Sn, Al or Bi triflate gave butyl levulinate with up to 91% yield …”

Synergy of B and Al Dopants in Mesoporous MFI Nanocrystals for Highly Selective Alcoholysis of Furfuryl Alcohol into Ethyl Levulinate

“…Heterogeneous acid catalysts, such as ion‐exchanged resins, mesoporous zeolites, and anchored metal salts, have been designed to replace homogeneous acids. Among typical solid acids, aluminosilicate zeolites with controllable acidity are cheap, stable, and reusable candidates for possible applications in the realm of biomass conversion, including the transformation of furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinate .…”

“…[3] Furthermore, catalytic and sustainable transformation of these platform molecules into highly value-added compounds, [4][5][6] exemplified with the alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinate in this work, mainly depend on the rational design of effective acid catalysts. [7,8] Heterogeneous acid catalysts, such as ion-exchanged resins, [9] mesoporous zeolites, [10,11] and anchored metal salts, [12] have been designed to replace homogeneous acids. Among typical solid acids, aluminosilicate zeolites with controllable acidity are cheap, stable, and reusable candidates for possible applications in the realm of biomass conversion, [13] including the transformation of furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinate.…”