Synthesis of Porous Clay Heterostructures Modified with SiO ₂ –ZrO ₂ Nanoparticles for the Valorization of Furfural in One‐Pot Process

The layered structure of two smectites (montmorillonite and saponite) are modified by the insertion SiO2–ZrO2 nanoparticles, with a Si/Zr molar ratio 5, to form porous clay heterostructures (PCHs). These PCHs exhibit clear improvement textural acid properties in comparison starting clays, due formation pillared presence Zr species, which provide an increase amount Lewis sites. materials studied one-pot catalytic processes transform furfural into valuable products, such as furfuryl alcohol, alkyl ethers, levulinates or γ-valerolactone, depending on experimental conditions. Thus, use milder reaction temperature (110 °C) favors alcohol while higher temperatures (170 promote levulinate well nondetected products associated humins polymerization and/or alcohol.