Synthesis, Characterisation, and Catalytic Evaluation of Novel Mesoporous Zeolite H‐BEA Catalysts for n‐Hexyl Levulinate Synthesis: Effect of Templates and Kinetic Studies

Amongst the biomass derived chemicals, levulinic acid esters are promising because of their vital use as solvents, fuel additives, and plasticizers. n‐Hexyl levulinate (HL) is a promising fuel additive, has been synthesised through the catalytic esterification of levulinic acid with n‐hexanol, employing novel mesozeolite H‐BEA as an effective solid acid catalysts. The zeolite H‐BEA catalyst has been modified using the tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide (TBAB), designated as MBT catalyst and another with TBAB surfactant and yeast, designated as MBTY catalyst. Mesozeolites are characterised by XRD, FT‐IR, solid state NMR ( 27 Al, 29 Si, 1 H), SEM, TGA‐DTG, NH 3 ‐TPD, and N 2 sorption isotherms analysis. Parametric studies were performed to optimise LA conversion by altering various reaction parameters, that include the molar ratio of acid to n ‐hexanol, catalyst concentration, and reaction duration. Best catalytic performance has been demonstrated by MBTY catalyst wherein it has afforded 99.44% conversion of LA and 94% yield under optimal reaction conditions. Further, a pseudo‐homogeneous model was adopted to describe the reaction kinetics of LA esterification over the parent and modified catalysts. Also, an experimental activation energy value for MBTY catalyst was found lowest (38.6 kJ/mol) as compared to other catalysts under study.