Selective Synthesis of Levulinic Ester from Furfural Catalyzed by Hierarchical Zeolites

Furfural is a platform molecule that can be catalytically converted using cascade series of reactions into levulinic esters, essential compounds used as fuel additives. Bifunctional catalysts containing Lewis and Brønsted acid sites such zeolites are commonly for these conversions. However, microporous often present diffusional restriction due to the size similarity furfural other molecules zeolites’ micropores. Thus, incorporating mesopores in materials through post-synthetic protocols promising pathway circumventing limitations. This study presents creation hierarchical beta mordenite Si or Al removal their employment conversion isopropyl levulinate (PL). Mordenite zeolite did not produce satisfactory mesopores, while was more efficient generating them by both alkaline treatments. Beta treated an solution presented larger (14.9 34.0 nm), maintaining total acidity value close its parent higher Lewis/Brønsted ratio. The combination features led improved diffusion bulkier products highest (94%) PL selectivity (90%), suggesting post-modification produced upgrading abundantly available furfural.