Alkyl levulinates are biobased chemicals with a great number of applications and great biofuel potential for blending to conventional diesel or gasoline. The present work focuses on the liquid-phase synthesis of butyl levulinate (BL) by esterification of levulinic acid (LA) with 1-butanol (BuOH) using a set of acidic ion-exchange resins. Experiments were performed at 80 °C and 2.5 MPa in a batch reactor by using an initial molar ratio AL/BuOH of 1/3 and a catalyst loading of 0.8%. It has been found that BL could be successfully obtained over ion-exchange resins with a selectivity higher than 99.5%. LA conversions ranged from 64% (Amberlyst 46, macroreticular, surface sulfonated) to 94% (Dowex 50Wx2, gel-type resin, conventionally sulfonated) at 8 h reaction time. By comparing their catalytic behavior, it was seen that resins morphology plays a very important role in the synthesis of BL making easier the access of reactants to acid sites. Accessibility of LA and BuOH to acid centers was high over highly swollen and low polymer density resins. Thus, gel-type resins with low divinylbenzene (DVB) content have been found as the most suitable to produce BL, e.g. Dowex 50Wx2, Dowex 50Wx4 and Purolite® CT224. Among them, Dowex 50Wx2 (2% DVB) is the most efficient catalyst tested

In the framework of reducing GHG emissions and accelerating the decarbonization of the road transport sector, vehicle efficiency is a key factor for competitiveness. In this sense, the refining industry can make its contribution by reformulating high-octane petrol fuel. The impact of this type of gasoline from CO₂ emission balance, technical feasibility, and economics standpoints has recently been assessed by the petroleum industry with promising results, and new potential boosters that could improve the octane number of standard gasoline are more needed than ever. The present work summarizes a comprehensive review aimed at collecting available data regarding chemical molecules that can be used in advanced gasoline formulations for modern spark-ignited car engines focusing on ash-free technologies. Potential boosters are divided into two categories: high-octane gasoline components and octane enhancer additives, with 2 vol % the considered frontier concentration between them. Targeted chemical compounds examined in the screening for high-octane components include isoparaffins, olefins, aromatics, alcohols, ethers, esters, ketones, furans, and carbonates. Chemical families assessed as additives were anilines, hydrazines, amines, pyridines, quinolines, indoles, N-nitrosamines, iodine compounds, selenium compounds, phenols, formates, oxalates, and, in lesser extension, other families. The scope of the analysis includes not only anti-knock effectiveness but also associated side effects for the engine, possible effects on both human health and the environment, current applications, and compatibility with existing infrastructure, among others. Promising opportunities in the medium- and long-terms for every family of chemical compounds that can potentially improve the anti-knock character of modern gasolines well beyond current specifications worldwide are presented. Furthermore, a few chemical families are identified as the most promising ones to be used in future gasoline formulations, either as high-octane components (such as ethers, ketones, and esters) or as octane booster additives (such as anilines, N-nitrosamines, and phenols).

The thermal decomposition of HCO₂H or preferably, HCO₂X (X = Na or NH₄) can be used to generate H₂ for the continuous hydrogenation of aromatic and cyclic aldehydes, ketones and nitroaromatics in high temperature pressurised water (HTPW). This means that hydrogenation reactions can be carried out in exactly the same equipment as has previously been used for selective oxidation in HTPW, thus facilitating relatively simple application of these reactions for non-specialists.

The use of acidic ion exchange resins in the transformation of biomass into biofuels is revised and their potential application is presented. Relationships between morphology and structure of resins and their catalytic activity for some existing reactions of the transformation network from sugars to biofuels are observed. In the synthesis of 5‐hydroxymethyfurfural and levulinic acid, catalytic activity of resins increases when the crosslinking content is decreased for both macroreticular and gel‐type resins. Gel‐type resins with low crosslinking were found to be the most suitable resins for direct esterification of levulinic acid with linear alcohols. However, for the alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol, macroreticular resins are better than gel‐type ones. Deactivation probably due to humins formation is the main drawback for industrial application. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry