Effective Upgrading of Levulinic Acid into Hexyl Levulinate Using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a Catalyst
AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O was used as a catalyst in the esterification reaction of levulinic acid with 1-hexanol for producing hexyl levulinate, a compound that finds applications in several industrial sectors and represents an excellent candidate to be used in diesel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Biomass |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/3/3/16 |
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| author | Valeria D’Ambrosio Carlo Pastore |
| author_facet | Valeria D’Ambrosio Carlo Pastore |
| author_sort | Valeria D’Ambrosio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O was used as a catalyst in the esterification reaction of levulinic acid with 1-hexanol for producing hexyl levulinate, a compound that finds applications in several industrial sectors and represents an excellent candidate to be used in diesel fuel blends. A kinetic and thermodynamic study of the esterification reaction was performed, considering four different temperatures (338, 348, 358, and 368 K), an acid: alcohol: catalyst 1:1:0.01 molar ratio, and a reaction time of 72 h. An optimization study was then carried out, evaluating the effect of alcohol and catalyst amounts, and, in the best reaction conditions (acid:alcohol:catalyst 1:2:0.1), a very high levulinic acid conversion (92.5%) was achieved. By using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O, alongside the high reaction yield, the product purification was also simplified, being such a catalyst able to trap most of the water in a different phase than hexyl levulinate, and, furthermore, it was found to be completely recoverable and reusable for several reaction cycles, without losing its catalytic effectiveness. The use of AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O, therefore, represents a promising effective green route for obtaining hexyl levulinate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:01:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-231f834ec4a94abda57a08750774e98b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-8783 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:01:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomass |
| spelling | doaj.art-231f834ec4a94abda57a08750774e98b2023-11-19T09:39:28ZengMDPI AGBiomass2673-87832023-08-013326627810.3390/biomass3030016Effective Upgrading of Levulinic Acid into Hexyl Levulinate Using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a CatalystValeria D’Ambrosio0Carlo Pastore1Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Via F. de Blasio 5, 70132 Bari, ItalyWater Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Via F. de Blasio 5, 70132 Bari, ItalyAlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O was used as a catalyst in the esterification reaction of levulinic acid with 1-hexanol for producing hexyl levulinate, a compound that finds applications in several industrial sectors and represents an excellent candidate to be used in diesel fuel blends. A kinetic and thermodynamic study of the esterification reaction was performed, considering four different temperatures (338, 348, 358, and 368 K), an acid: alcohol: catalyst 1:1:0.01 molar ratio, and a reaction time of 72 h. An optimization study was then carried out, evaluating the effect of alcohol and catalyst amounts, and, in the best reaction conditions (acid:alcohol:catalyst 1:2:0.1), a very high levulinic acid conversion (92.5%) was achieved. By using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O, alongside the high reaction yield, the product purification was also simplified, being such a catalyst able to trap most of the water in a different phase than hexyl levulinate, and, furthermore, it was found to be completely recoverable and reusable for several reaction cycles, without losing its catalytic effectiveness. The use of AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O, therefore, represents a promising effective green route for obtaining hexyl levulinate.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/3/3/16hexyl levulinatedirect esterificationAlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>Ocatalyst recoverabilityprocess intensification |
| spellingShingle | Valeria D’Ambrosio Carlo Pastore Effective Upgrading of Levulinic Acid into Hexyl Levulinate Using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a Catalyst Biomass hexyl levulinate direct esterification AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O catalyst recoverability process intensification |
| title | Effective Upgrading of Levulinic Acid into Hexyl Levulinate Using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a Catalyst |
| title_full | Effective Upgrading of Levulinic Acid into Hexyl Levulinate Using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a Catalyst |
| title_fullStr | Effective Upgrading of Levulinic Acid into Hexyl Levulinate Using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a Catalyst |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effective Upgrading of Levulinic Acid into Hexyl Levulinate Using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a Catalyst |
| title_short | Effective Upgrading of Levulinic Acid into Hexyl Levulinate Using AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O as a Catalyst |
| title_sort | effective upgrading of levulinic acid into hexyl levulinate using alcl sub 3 sub ·6h sub 2 sub o as a catalyst |
| topic | hexyl levulinate direct esterification AlCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O catalyst recoverability process intensification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/3/3/16 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT valeriadambrosio effectiveupgradingoflevulinicacidintohexyllevulinateusingalclsub3sub6hsub2suboasacatalyst AT carlopastore effectiveupgradingoflevulinicacidintohexyllevulinateusingalclsub3sub6hsub2suboasacatalyst |