Production of ethyl levulinate fuel bioadditive from 5-hydroxymethylfur-fural over sulfonic acid functionalized biochar catalysts

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Andreia F. Peixoto (Author) Other; Ruben Ramos (Author) Other; Manuela M. Moreira (Author) Other; Olívia Salomé G. P. Soares (Author) FEUP; Lucília Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; Manuel Fernando R. Pereira (Author) FEUP; Cristina Delerue Matos (Author) Other; Cristina Freire (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Fuel

Vol. 303

Pages: 1-9

ISSN: 0016-2361

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 25 Citations

ISI Web of Science - 9 Citations

Scopus - 27 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-4S7

DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121227

Abstract (EN): In this work, a series of novel -SO3H functionalized biochar materials were prepared and investigated for the first time as catalysts for the production of fuel additive ethyl levulinate (EL) from biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The employed biochar was directly produced from vineyard pruning wastes by a simple hydrothermal treatment using water in subcritical conditions followed by 3 different one-step sulfonation processes. The effects of sulfonating agent, reaction temperature, reaction time and alcohol solvent were examined. Full HMF conversion together with outstanding EL yields (over 84%) were achieved at 130 degrees C and after 6 h over the biochar functionalized with the organosilane 2-(4-chlorosulphonylphenyl)ethyltrimetoxysilane (BioC-S3). Catalyst characterization suggested that the high acid strength (0.983 mmol H+.g- 1) derived from the anchoring of arylsulfonic groups were responsible for the promotion of acid-driven etherification and ethanolysis steps. The BioC-S3 catalyst can be recycled without a significant loss of catalytic activity, indicating the stability of - SO3H organosilane group structure in the porous biochar. The obtained results offer a competitive alternative for the production of fuel additives, such as alkyl levulinates, using low-cost and easy-to-prepare biocharbased catalysts, all from lignocellulose resources, as an example to support a future exploitation of a potential biorefinery.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9