Abstract
A series of mesoporous composites of SO42−/Al-Zr/KIT-6, with varied ratios of ZrO2 to Al2O3 and degrees of sulfation have been synthesized as an efficient, clean, facile and environmental-friendly nano-catalyst for the selective etherification of biomass-derived 5 hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to produce 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF) as a biofuel candidate in a one pot process. Structure/property relationships of the catalyst have been determined and optimized in terms of EMF yield and HMF conversion. The resulting catalyst has been further tuned through tailored reaction conditions to produce an EMF yield of 89.8 % and HMF conversion of 99 %.
Highlights
Biomass is considered the most abundant renewable and sustainable carbon source
Due to ever diminishing fossil resources in combination with ever increasing energy demands, as well as increasing environmental awareness, researchers are focusing atten tion on obtaining biofuels and value-added chemicals through chemo-catalytic conversion of biomass and its derivatives [3]. 5-hydrox ymethylfurfural (HMF), which is achieved via acid- catalyzed dehy dration of sugars, is regarded as a versatile, biomass-derived platform that can be further converted into wide vari ety of green fuels and sustainably derived chemicals [4,5]
64 % EMF, achieved using an ethanol–DMSO solvent system catalyzed by phosphotungstic acid (HPW) [16], SO3H-functionalized polymers produced a 72.8 % yield of EMF at 110 ◦C after 10 h [17], BF3⋅(Et)2O/AlCl3⋅6H2O gave a yield of 55 % EMF [18], a hydrogen sulfate ionic liquid co- solvent produced a yield of 83 % [19] while heteropolyacid supported on K-10 clay solid acid catalysts were reported to produce EMF with a 61.5 % yield [20]
Summary
Biomass is considered the most abundant renewable and sustainable carbon source. It is a promising alternative to fossil fuels for may in dustrial applications and products [1,2]. EMF, which can be produced through etherification of HMF with ethanol, has a high octane number with a high energy density of 8.7 kWhL− 1, 29 % greater than that of ethanol, roughly equivalent to conventional gasoline (8.8 kWhL− 1) and close to that of diesel (9.7 kWhL− 1). (II) To improve the strength of the active tetragonal phase of ZrO2 which is optimal crystalline phase for superior catalytic activity [32] and (III) for tunability of the Lewis and Brønsted acid sites [33] These catalysts have been prepared through in-situ incorporation of varying metal loadings in the KIT-6 matrix followed by sulfation by impregnation in aqueous sulfuric acid of varying molarity.
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