Metal sulfates-catalyzed butanolysis of cellulose: butyl levulinate production and optimization

Direct production of butyl levulinate (BL) by butanolysis of cellulose was carried out using single or combined metal sulfates catalysts. The synergetic enhancement of the ferric sulfate and aluminum sulfate can improve the conversion of cellulose to BL. Moreover, the butanolysis of cellulose was optimized by using response surface methodology. Under the optimum conditions of 194 °C, catalyst concentration 10.0 g/L and reaction time 3 h, the average cellulose conversion of 100% and BL yield of 40.3% were obtained. In addition, the analysis of liquid products and the characterization of catalyst were performed, and the reusability experiments showed that the metal sulfates can be easily recycled and be reused more than five times with high activity in the butanolysis process. This study provided an economical and feasible method for bio-based BL production from cellulose.