Conversion of D-Fructose into Ethyl Lactate Over a Supported SnO₂–ZnO/Al₂O₃ Catalyst

Abstract

The study is directed to the search of a simple effective catalyst for ethyl lactate obtained from fructose as renewable raw material. A series of SnO2-containing oxides prepared by impregnation of alumina were characterized by several techniques in order to determine their textural and acid-base properties. The transformation of a 13% fructose solution in 98% ethanol over SnO2/Al2O3 catalysts using autoclave rotated with 60 rpm at 160 °C for 3 h was studied. It was found that doping SnO2/Al2O3 samples with ZnO improves selectivity towards ethyl lactate. The supported SnO2-ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst provides 100% fructose conversion with 55% yield of ethyl lactate at 160 °C. A possible scheme of fructose transformation into ethyl lactate on L-acid IVSn4+ sites is discussed.

Keywords

• fructose
• ethyl lactate
• SnO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst