Continuous flow synthesis of Butyl Levulinate using a microreactor –RTD and kinetic studies

Abstract

Levulinic acid (LA) is produced abundantly from biomass processing, it serves as an eminent precursor for the synthesis of a variety of levulinate esters used as fuel additives. One such additive is Butyl Levulinate (BL) which possess excellent fuel blending properties. With the advent of process intensification techniques like microreactors higher conversions of value added chemicals and API's (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) can be achieved in lesser time. In the present work a Residence Time Distribution (RTD) study was performed on a microreactor to probe into non-idealities existing within the system. The microreactor system was then used to study the synthesis of Butyl Levulinate by varying the catalyst loading and residence time. In the microreactor 89.19% conversion of levulinic acid was obtained at 35% (mole) catalyst loading and 2 ​min space time, the mole ratio and temperature were fixed at 1:8 (LA:butanol) and 60 ​°C. Whereas, under similar conditions in a batch reactor LA conversion of 40.54% was achieved after 50 ​min.