Production of octyl levulinate biolubricant over modified H-ZSM-5: Optimization by response surface methodology

The present study highlighted the use of modified H-ZSM-5 (Meso-HZ-5) as heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of octyl levulinate biolubricant by catalytic esterification of biomass derived renewable levulinic acid (LA) with n-octanol. The process variables such as catalyst loading (X1), n-octanol to LA molar ratio (X2) and reaction temperature (X3) were optimized through response surface methodology (RSM), using Box-Behnken model. Analysis of variance was performed to determine the adequacy and significance of the quadratic model. The yield of octyl levulinate was obtained to be 99% at optimum process parameters. The developed quadratic model was found to be adequate and statistically accurate with correlation value (R2) of 0.9971 to predict the yield of octyl levulinate biolubricant. The study was also extended on the validation of theoretical and experimental data, including catalyst reusability.

The response surface methodology (RSM) analysis indicated that catalyst loading and reaction temperature are most influencing parameters in esterification of biomass derived renewable levulinic acid with n-octanol to produce octyl levulinate biolubricant.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide