Abstract In the current study, a novel acid solid catalyst was developed from the residue of Bactris gasipaes , a solid waste with no proper use and a high yield in the Brazilian heart of palm industries. The catalyst’s production was optimized, and the material was characterized according to SEM, TGA, BET, FTIR, and XRD techniques. Finally, the catalyst was employed in the production of propyl acetate, an ester with economic importance in the chemical industries. The best catalyst was obtained after the pyrolysis of the biomass at 450 °C, followed by an H 2 SO 4 -functionalization at 150 °C for 2 h. The material presented a considerable catalyst activity, increasing significantly the reaction rate when compared to the non-catalyzed reaction, and it presented a small decrease in the catalyst activity within five successive reaction cycles. Reaction kinetics were best described by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model, and the criteria on the external and internal mass transfer indicate negligible effects. The development of acid solid catalyst from the residue of the B. gasipaes peach palm industry is a sustainable alternative to conventional catalysts, for it reduces the generation of solid waste and might provide an alternative income source for local producers in Brazil. Graphical Abstract
Marques et al. (Thu,) studied this question.