Walisongo Journal of Chemistry
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026): Walisongo Journal of Chemistry

EFFICIENT CONVERSION OF FURFURYL ALCOHOL TO ETHYL LEVULINATE AND FURFURYL ETHYL ETHER USING COPPER(II) TUNGSTATE CATALYSTS

Husni Wahyu Wijaya (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang 65145, Indonesia)
Rima Prastianti Putri (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang 65145, Indonesia)
Ubed Sonai Fahruddin Arrozi (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang 65145, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Jul 2026

Abstract

Furfuryl alcohol (FFA), a biomass-derived platform compound widely used in polymer synthesis, has considerable potential as a precursor for producing furfuryl ethyl ether (FEE) and ethyl levulinate (EL), which are high-value industrial solvents and fuel additives. Their commercial production requires an active, stable, and inexpensive catalyst. In this study, CuWO₄ catalysts calcined at different temperatures (CuWO₄-TC, CuWO₄-350, CuWO₄-500, and CuWO₄-650) were synthesized and structurally characterized using powder XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDX. The catalytic performance of these catalysts in FFA alcoholysis using ethanol as the hydrogen donor was systematically investigated, and the products were analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. Among the catalysts, CuWO₄-TC exhibited 100% FFA conversion and a 99% EL yield at 160°C for 6 h. The catalytic activity of CuWO₄-350 was significantly influenced by temperature and reaction time, with 100% FFA conversion, 2% FEE yield, and 98% EL yield achieved at 180°C for 6 h. These results demonstrate the high efficiency of CuWO₄ catalysts for the selective conversion of FFA, offering a promising route for sustainable biomass valorization.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

wjc

Publisher

Subject

Chemistry

Description

Walisongo journal of chemistry is a peer reviewed and open access journal published by Chemistry Department, faculty of Science and Technology, UIN Walisongo Semarang. This journal covering all areas of chemistry including inorganic, organic, physic, analytic, biochemistry, and environmental ...