Synthesis of ethyl furfuryl ether via etherification of furfuryl alcohol with ethanol over montmorillonite K10

Abstract

Ethyl furfuryl ether (EFE), which is synthesized via etherification of furfuryl alcohol (FFalc) with ethanol over Brønsted acid catalysts, is used as an additive in gasoline to reduce its consumption and CO₂ emission. In this work, we demonstrate that the performance of this synthesis route can be improved by using commercially available, low-cost, and environmentally friendly montmorillonite K10, which produces EFE in a relatively high yield of 45.3% and a FFalc conversion of 94.2% at a low reaction temperature of 393 K within 1 h. Other commercially available clay minerals showing Brønsted acidity, namely, kaolinite and halloysite, were also used in the etherification reaction under identical conditions. The catalytic performance followed the order of montmorillonite K10 > halloysite > kaolinite, which is consistent with that of the Brønsted acidities determined via acid–base titration. The spent montmorillonite K10 showed a catalytic performance comparable to that of the fresh catalyst after calcination.