Kinetic modelling studies on the conversion of fructose to methyl levulinate and 5- methoxymethylfurfural using sulphuric acid in methanol.

Jong, Niek, de (2025) Kinetic modelling studies on the conversion of fructose to methyl levulinate and 5- methoxymethylfurfural using sulphuric acid in methanol. Bachelor's Thesis, Chemical Engineering.

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Abstract

This report displays experimental and kinetic modelling studies on the sulphuric acid catalysed conversion of fructose to methyl levulinate and 5-methoxymethylfurfural in methanol. Different reaction conditions were explored, i.e. temperatures from 100 °C to 140 °C, sulphuric acid concentrations from 12 mM to 20 mM and water concentrations ranging from 0 M to 0.83 M. HMF and MMF were identified as intermediate products and methyl levulinate was the main product. This report suggests two possible reaction models and presents that a reduced model fits as well as a full model and allows for a lower risk of overfitting. Additionally, it is displayed that an increase in the initial water concentration both decreases humin formation and increases the maximum MMF yield and final methyl levulinate yield. Finally, it is shown that the formation of formic acid is not limited to the suggested reaction model, highlighting the need for further mechanistic studies on the production, consumption and potentially the analysis of formic acid.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Hommes, A. and Winkelman, J.G.M.
Degree programme:	Chemical Engineering
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	07 Jul 2025 12:23
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2025 12:23
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/35914

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