Ga Modified Zeolite Based Solid Acid Catalyst for Levulinic Acid Production

Abstract Gallium modified zeolite (mordenite), a solid acid catalyst, was prepared using the sonochemical method. The catalyst (Ga@mordenite) was characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, FT‐IR, DSC TGA, TPD and XPS analysis. Uniform distribution of Ga on the zeolite surface was confirmed from the SEM‐EDS analysis. The catalyst was further used for the production of levulinic acid (LA) from carbohydrates (glucose, starch, and cellulose) in a hydrothermal process. Reaction conditions (time, 6 h; temperature, 175 °C) for the optimum yield of LA (59.9 wt. %) were deduced. The reaction products were analyzed qualitatively using 13 C NMR and quantified using HPLC analysis. Synergistic effect of the Lewis acid sites of Ga 3+ generated in situ and the Bronsted acid sites of mordenite were found to be crucial for the activity of Ga@mordenite for the conversion of glucose to levulinic acid.