Abstract:SnO2-supported 12-molybdovanadophosphoric acid (PMo12/SnO2) was prepared by a simple impregnation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). n-Butyl furoate was synthesized under ultrasound irradiation with PMo12/SnO2 as catalyst. Through single factor experiments, the effect of each factor on the yield of n-butyl furoate was investigated. The optimal reaction conditions were as follows: the molar ratio of butyl alcohol to furoic acid was 3:1; the amount of catalyst was 0.50 g; the volume of water-carrying agent was 5 mL; ultrasound irradiation time was 15 min; ultrasound irradiation power was 200 W. Under these conditions, the yield of n-butyl furoate reached 97.5%. Compared to other reported methods, this ultrasound-assisted synthesis of n-butyl furoate catalyzed by PMo12/SnO2 had advantages such as shorter reaction time, high yield, and low energy consumption. The kinetic parameters of the reaction at 343 K, 353 K, and 363 K were measured, and the results indicated that the ultrasound-assisted synthesis of n-butyl furoate catalyzed by PMo12/SnO2 followed second-order kinetics, with an apparent activation energy of 27.85 kJ/mol. Compared to simple ultrasound-assisted esterification, PMo12/SnO2-catalyzed esterification, and direct esterification in a hot water bath, the ultrasound-assisted synthesis catalyzed by PMo12/SnO2 significantly decreased the apparent activation energy of esterification, accelerated the catalytic reaction, and improved the yield of n-butyl furoate, owing to the potential synergistic effect between ultrasonic treatment and the catalytic action of PMo12/SnO2,.
