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Ethane‐Bridged Organosilica Nanotubes Functionalized with Arenesulfonic Acid and Phenyl Groups for the Efficient Conversion of Levulinic Acid or Furfuryl Alcohol to Ethyl Levulinate
Author(s) -
Song Daiyu,
An Sai,
Sun Yingnan,
Zhang Panpan,
Guo Yihang,
Zhou Dandan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201600083
Subject(s) - levulinic acid , furfuryl alcohol , alcohol , catalysis , chemistry , organic chemistry , carbon nanotube , materials science , nanotechnology
A series of ethane‐bridged organosilica nanotubes functionalized with arenesulfonic acid and phenyl groups (ArSO 3 H‐Si(Et)Si‐Ph‐NTs) was fabricated successfully by a P123‐directed sol–gel co‐condensation route combined with hydrothermal treatment with a carefully adjusted P123‐to‐bis‐silylated organic precursor‐to‐HCl molar ratio in the starting system. The morphological characteristics, textural properties, Brønsted acidity, surface hydrophobicity, and structural integrity of the carbon/silica framework were characterized. The ArSO 3 H‐Si(Et)Si‐Ph‐NTs materials were applied in the synthesis of ethyl levulinate from the esterification of levulinic acid and the ethanolysis of furfuryl alcohol, and the excellent catalytic activity was explained in terms of the strong Brønsted acidity, unique hollow nanotube morphology, and enhanced surface hydrophobicity. Reusability tests confirmed that ArSO 3 H‐Si(Et)Si‐Ph‐NTs can be reused for three or five times without a significant loss of activity.