Modified solid acids derived from biomass based cellulose for one-step conversion of carbohydrates into ethyl levulinate

A series of metal salt-modified carbon catalysts had been prepared to study the selective transformation of various carbohydrates into ethyl levulinate in an ethanol medium. The specific textural and chemical characteristics of prepared carbon samples were identified by Raman, XRD , XPS , NH 3 -TPD, FT-IR and nitrogen physisorption . Various parameters such as ethanol/water volume ratio, NaCl addition, reaction temperature, and catalyst dosage played a great role in ethyl levulinate production. A desirable ethyl levulinate yield of 58.0 mol% with a highest ROF (rate of ethyl levulinate formation per gram of catalyst per hour) value of 2148.3   µmol/(g cat ·h) was achieved at 468   K over FeCl 3 modified carbon catalyst with respect to fructose conversion. The recycling experiments revealed that the sulfonated carbon catalysts exhibited relatively satisfied activity and stability.