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H4SiW12O40-Catalyzed Levulinic Acid Esterification at Room Temperature for Production of Fuel Bioadditives

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Abstract

In this work, a route to synthesize bioadditives through H4SiW12O40-catalyzed levulinic acid esterification reactions with alcohols of short chain at room temperature was assessed. Among the Brønsted acids assessed (i.e., sulfuric, p-toluenesulfonic, silicotungstic, phosphomolybdic and phosphotungstic acids), H4SiW12O40 was the most active and selective catalyst. High conversions (ca. 90%) and selectivity (90–97%) for alkyl levulinates with carbon chain size ranging from C6 to C10 were obtained. The effect of main reaction parameters was studied, with a special focus on the reaction temperature, stoichiometry of reactants, concentration and nature of the catalyst. Insights on reaction mechanism were done and the activity of heteropoly catalysts was discussed based on acid strength and softness of the heteropolyanions. The use of renewable raw material, the mild reaction conditions (i.e., room temperature), and a recyclable solid catalyst are the some of the positive features of this process. The alkyl levulinates obtained are renewable origin bioadditives that can be blended either to gasoline or diesel.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support from CNPq and FAPEMIG (Brazil). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.

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  1. Faculdade de Ciências Naturais e Matemática-Campus de Lhanguene, Universidade Pedagógica de Moçambique, Av. de Moçambique, Km 1, C.P. 4040, Maputo, Mozambique

    Castelo Bandane Vilanculo

  2. Chemistry Department, Federal University of Viçosa, University Campus, P.H. Rolfs Avenue, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36590-000, Brazil

    Lorena Christina de Andrade Leles & Márcio José da Silva

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  1. Castelo Bandane Vilanculo
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  2. Lorena Christina de Andrade Leles
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Correspondence to Márcio José da Silva.

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Vilanculo, C.B., de Andrade Leles, L.C. & da Silva, M.J. H4SiW12O40-Catalyzed Levulinic Acid Esterification at Room Temperature for Production of Fuel Bioadditives. Waste Biomass Valor 11, 1895–1904 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-00549-x

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