From lignocellulosic biomass to chemical precursors: Simultaneous valorization of furfural and levulinic acid over mesoporous acid catalysts

This paper analyses the furfural and levulinic acid aldol condensation over mesoporous acid materials. This process is a promising route to obtain chemical feedstock and biofuel precursors from two of the most available bio-platform molecules produced from nonedible lignocellulosic biomass. Different acid solids were tested (ion-exchange resins, MCM, gamma-Al2O3), obtaining the best results with alumina (gamma-Al2O3). This material reaches a feasible equilibrium between sustainability (heterogeneous, available, and cheap catalysis, soft temperatures), activity (45 % of levulinic acid conversion, C10s yield of 44 %) and stability (no deactivation observed after four cycles). These results significantly improve those reported in the literature using microporous materials since the adsorption is significantly limited, as demonstrated by the good carbon balance (>95 %), the kinetic model and spent catalyst characterization.