01833nas a2200157   4500008004100000022001400041245012000055210006900175260000800244300001600252490000700268520124100275100002301516700000501539856013101544       2018                        eng d  a2365-654900aSelective production of furanic ethers from lignocellulosic biomass over mesoporous Zr-incorporated SBA-15 catalyst0 aSelective production of furanic ethers from lignocellulosic biom  cNOV  a12504-125110 v 33 aEtherification of furanic compounds such as furfuryl alcohol (FA) and 5-(Hydroxymethyl) furfural (5-HMF) to the corresponding ethers was successfully achieved over Zr-SBA-15 catalyst. For this purpose, various Zr-SBA-15 catalysts with different Zr/Si molar ratios in self-generated acidic environment were prepared by one-pot strategy in self-generated acidic environment. XRD analysis revealed the increase in the d-spacing from 9.021 nm for parent SBA-15 to 11.66 nm for Zr-SBA-15, confirming the incorporation of Zr into the framework without disturbing the mesoporous structure of SBA-15. For the lowest Zr concentration of 0.09 M, hexagonally ordered porous structure was found to be retained as confirmed by TEM while, increase in Zr/Si molar ratio to 0.14, resulted in loss of long range order mesoporosity. The presence of both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites in Zr-SBA-15 catalyst as evidenced by py-IR, were due to the introduction of Zr in the frame work of SBA-15. The co-existence of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites in Zr-SBA-15 was responsible to catalyze etherification of FA and esterification of levulinic acid producing 2-(Ethoxymethyl) furan and ethyl levulinate selectively, both of which are bio-derived fuel additives.1 aPatil, Chetana, R.1 a  uhttps://library.ncl.res.in/content/selective-production-furanic-ethers-lignocellulosic-biomass-over-mesoporous-zr-incorporated