Green heterogeneous catalyst based on cross-linked carrageenans for direct conversion of fructose to ethyl levulinate

Ethyl levulinate (EL) is a biomass-derived compound, capable of being converted to an array of costly compounds and therefore is attracted by many researchers. In the present study, κ and ι-carrageenan grafted methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) catalysts (κC-g-MBA and ιC-g-MBA) were prepared and applied to convert fructose to EL. FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD of both low-angle and wide-angle, N₂ adsorption-and-desorption, FESEM, and TGA were used to identify the catalysts. From the catalysts, κC-g-MBA and ιC-g-MBA revealed the desirable results for EL with 80 and 82 % yields, respectively. The various parameters like reaction temperature, time, catalyst quantity, and the original fructose quantity were studied. Furthermore, experimental design was employed to create the ideal conditions for the reaction temperature 180 °C for the reaction, 5 h for the duration of the reaction, and 50 mg of catalyst for EL chosen. In addition, the catalyst's capability for reuse was explored and the catalyst was used repeatedly without a significant change in the catalyst activity.