Simple One-Pot Synthesis of Sulfonic-Acid-Functionalized Silica for Effective Catalytic Esterification of Levulinic Acid

Desinta Dwi Ristiana; Suyanta Suyanta; Nuryono Nuryono

doi:10.22146/ijc.68301

Simple One-Pot Synthesis of Sulfonic-Acid-Functionalized Silica for Effective Catalytic Esterification of Levulinic Acid

https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.68301

Desinta Dwi Ristiana⁽¹⁾, Suyanta Suyanta⁽²⁾, Nuryono Nuryono^(3*)

(1) Department of Chemistry, Faculty Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sekip Utara, PO BOX BLS 21, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
(2) Department of Chemistry, Faculty Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sekip Utara, PO BOX BLS 21, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
(3) Department of Chemistry, Faculty Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sekip Utara, PO BOX BLS 21, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

Silica functionalized with sulfonic acid catalyst (SiO₂−SO₃H) was synthesized through a one-pot method and evaluated as the catalyst material for esterification of levulinic acid in an excess amount of ethanol. Sodium silicate solution was used as the silica source, and then a silane coupling agent, namely GPTMS, was used to incorporate the sulfonic group of 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (AS) into the silica. Functionalization of AS using GPTMS in the slightly acidic condition has been successfully carried out based on the characterization with FTIR, SEM-EDX, and TGA measurements. Catalyst with the AS to SiO₂ molar ratio of 5:6 (SiO₂−SO₃H(5)) showed the highest acid content (1.02 mmol g^–1) and the highest conversion of levulinic acid (70%). The reaction followed pseudo-first-order with the rate constant of 0.00414 min^–1. Catalyst material was regenerated by washing with alcohol and water, and the catalyst material can be reused at least for 3 cycles. From this study, the SiO₂−SO₃H produced from a green process is an effective catalyst to produce esters used in fuel additives.

Keywords

silica acid catalyst; coupling agent; one-pot method; esterification; levulinic acid

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.68301