Solid acid catalysed formation of ethyl levulinate and ethyl glucopyranoside from mono- and disaccharides

Sulfonic acid functionalised SBA-15 (SO3H-SBA-15), sulfated zirconia and beta. Y, ZSM-5 and mordenite zeolite catalysts have been applied for the dehydration of sugars to ethyl levulinate and ethyl-o-glucopyranoside (EDGP) using ethanol as solvent and reactant. The SO3H-SBA-15 catalyst showed a high catalytic activity for the selective conversion of fructose to ethyl levulinate (57%) and glucose to EDGP (80%) at 140 degrees C. whereas the disaccharide sucrose yielded a significant amount of both products. The SO3H-SBA-15 catalysts were found to be highly active compared to the zeolites under identical reaction conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.