An Efficient Catalyst for the Conversion of Fructose into Methyl Levulinate

The catalytic alcoholysis of fructose in methanol to methyl levulinate was performed by using phosphotungstic acid iron catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that the exchanging of H+ with Fe3+ ions could modify the acidity of H3PW12O40 and introduce some Lewis acidity into the molecules. The highest yield of methyl levulinate was obtained over the Fe-HPW-1 catalyst. This catalyst showed 100 % fructose conversion with 73.7 % yield of methyl levulinate at 130 A degrees C, 2 MPa for 2 h, and it could be reused at least five times without obvious loss of activity. The results suggest that the combination of Bronsted acidity with some Lewis acidity could effectively promote the conversion of fructose in methanol to methyl levulinate.