Synthesis of n-butyl levulinate as a fuel additive using bimetallic Zr/Al catalysts supported on mesoporous silica: Applying experimental design to optimize the reaction conditions

Abstract

Butyl levulinate (BL) as a fuel additive can be produced using biomass sources, which are inexpensive and accessible materials. In this study, BL was produced by alcoholysis of fructose as a biomass-derived over bimetallic Zr/Al catalysts (Zr/Al (2)-SB) supported on SBA-15 mesoporous silica. catalyst with 72.8% yield. The effect of various factors, including the type of catalyst, reaction temperature and time, catalyst amount, and initial fructose concentration, was investigated by the Taguchi experimental design L9 orthogonal array. Initial fructose concentration was selected as the most effective parameter on the dehydration of fructose to BL. The dehydration of maltose, sucrose, and glucose to BL was performed under optimum reaction conditions obtained by the Taguchi method with 52.0%, 59.2%, and 63.4% BL yield, respectively. Finally, the reusability test of the catalyst was shown to be good activity after four runs, and the BL yield did not significantly change.