Effective value-added strategy of furan compounds with short straight-chain monohydric alcohols based on acid site regulation of zirconium based mesoporous carbon.

The biomass-derived furan compound furfuryl alcohol can be utilized to produce fuel substitutes, furfuryl ethers, through etherification reactions with short-chain monohydric alcohols. In order to solve the problems of high reaction temperature and poor product selectivity in this research, a porous carbon-based material with adjustable acidic strength and content, and acid species ratio was synthesized and prepared in this work. Zirconium was employed as Lewis acid and adjusting its loading was the key method to drive the etherification reaction. The physicochemical properties of the material were confirmed based on BET, FTIR, XRD, NH 3 -TPD and other characterization methods. The active sites of the catalysts were identified by poisoning experiments, and the kinetics of the catalytic reactions were designed and discussed. The apparent activation energy of Zr5-ST-C was calculated according to the Arrhenius equation. This study provides an effective solution for the efficient synthesis and industrial application of furfuryl ethers. [Display omitted] • A zirconium based mesoporous carbon material with adjustable acid sites has been synthesized. • Kinetic characterization of catalytic furfuryl etherification reactions was carried out. • An efficient synthesis scheme for furfural ethers is provided. • Development of zirconium-based catalysts with potential application in furfuryl etherification reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]