345
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9_12
Solid Acid-Catalyzed Esterification
of Levulinic Acid for Production of ValueAdded Chemicals
Kalpana C. Maheria, Aayushi Lodhi, Henilkumar Lankapati,
and Rishav Krishna
Abstract In view of the growing threat of climate change, there is a need to put
intense research efforts to reverse global warming effects. Use of inexpensive and
abundantly available lignocellulose as a carbon source for reducing societal dependence on fossil fuels and anthropogenic CO 2 emissions is vital in the current scenario. There is a need to emphasize on gradual shift from petroleum-based
technologies toward renewable feedstock-based technologies for value-added
chemical synthesis. Catalytic conversion of low-cost biomass into diversified industrially significant platform chemicals is of great research interest. Lignocellulosederived levulinic acid (LA) is increasingly gaining attention among industrialists
and academicians owing to its useful properties and potential industrial applications. Notable chemicals that are synthesized/derived from LA include levulinate
esters, γ-valerolactone, acrylic acid, 1,4-pentanediol, β-acetylacrylic acid, α-angelica
lactone, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, δ-aminolevulinic acid, etc. Among these, levulinate esters find useful applications as plasticizing agents, fragrance chemicals,
solvents, intermediates in organic process industries, oxygenate additives in fuels,
etc. Levulinate esters are generally obtained by esterification reaction in the presence of suitable acid catalysts, either in homogeneous (liquid acid) and heterogeneous (solid acid) medium. The solid acid catalysts are mostly favored over liquid
acids to avoid issues related to handling, separation, regeneration, and disposal due
to the corrosive and toxic nature of liquid acids. This chapter presents a brief account
on several value-added chemicals that are derived from LA and discussion on
homogeneously and heterogeneously catalyzed esterification reaction of LA to
yield various valuable levulinate esters. Zeolite-/mesozeolite-catalyzed esterification of LA to synthesize n-butyl levulinate and pentyl levulinate has been covered
in detail. Zeolites as a heterogeneous catalyst are important in the development of
cleaner technologies. This effort will serve as an aid for industrialists and academicians who are working in the area of conceptualizing LA biorefineries.
K. C. Maheria (*) · A. Lodhi · H. Lankapati · R. Krishna
Department of Chemistry, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology,
Surat, Gujarat, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9_12
Solid Acid-Catalyzed Esterification
of Levulinic Acid for Production of ValueAdded Chemicals
Kalpana C. Maheria, Aayushi Lodhi, Henilkumar Lankapati,
and Rishav Krishna
Abstract In view of the growing threat of climate change, there is a need to put
intense research efforts to reverse global warming effects. Use of inexpensive and
abundantly available lignocellulose as a carbon source for reducing societal dependence on fossil fuels and anthropogenic CO 2 emissions is vital in the current scenario. There is a need to emphasize on gradual shift from petroleum-based
technologies toward renewable feedstock-based technologies for value-added
chemical synthesis. Catalytic conversion of low-cost biomass into diversified industrially significant platform chemicals is of great research interest. Lignocellulosederived levulinic acid (LA) is increasingly gaining attention among industrialists
and academicians owing to its useful properties and potential industrial applications. Notable chemicals that are synthesized/derived from LA include levulinate
esters, γ-valerolactone, acrylic acid, 1,4-pentanediol, β-acetylacrylic acid, α-angelica
lactone, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, δ-aminolevulinic acid, etc. Among these, levulinate esters find useful applications as plasticizing agents, fragrance chemicals,
solvents, intermediates in organic process industries, oxygenate additives in fuels,
etc. Levulinate esters are generally obtained by esterification reaction in the presence of suitable acid catalysts, either in homogeneous (liquid acid) and heterogeneous (solid acid) medium. The solid acid catalysts are mostly favored over liquid
acids to avoid issues related to handling, separation, regeneration, and disposal due
to the corrosive and toxic nature of liquid acids. This chapter presents a brief account
on several value-added chemicals that are derived from LA and discussion on
homogeneously and heterogeneously catalyzed esterification reaction of LA to
yield various valuable levulinate esters. Zeolite-/mesozeolite-catalyzed esterification of LA to synthesize n-butyl levulinate and pentyl levulinate has been covered
in detail. Zeolites as a heterogeneous catalyst are important in the development of
cleaner technologies. This effort will serve as an aid for industrialists and academicians who are working in the area of conceptualizing LA biorefineries.
K. C. Maheria (*) · A. Lodhi · H. Lankapati · R. Krishna
Department of Chemistry, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology,
Surat, Gujarat, India