Graphene Oxide: An Efficient Acid Catalyst for Alcoholysis and Esterification Reactions

Evidence is presented for graphene oxide (GO), prepared by modified Hummers method, as a highly active, selective and reusable solid‐acid catalyst for the production of alkyl levulinates via alcoholysis or esterification. 95.5 % yield of ethyl levulinate was achieved by GO in furfuryl alcohol alcoholysis. Moreover, the surface SO 3 H groups were identified as the primary active sites, while the surface carboxyl groups worked synergistically to adsorb furfuryl alcohol.