Direct conversion of sugar into ethyl levulinate catalyzed by selective heterogeneous acid under co-solvent system

The direct synthesis of ethyl levulinate (EL) from sucrose was investigated under co-solvent of tetrahydrofuran (THF)/ethanol over stable/active heterogeneous acid catalyst. Several Lewis acid-metal oxides were doped onto Brønsted acid-sulfonated carbon (SC) and the results found that Zn-SC exhibited highest activity for production of EL from sucrose conversion of 100% with a selectivity of 72.1%. The catalytic mechanism for conversion of sucrose into EL and other products was investigated through significant effects such as catalyst type, co-solvent and ultrasonic application. The catalyst reusability test exhibited high stability for five cycles and then dramatically decreased without any regeneration process.