The performance of 1,3-dipropyl-2-(2-propoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenylimidazolium iodide based ionic liquid for biomass conversion into levulinic acid and formic acid.

Abstract Ionic liquid (IL) demonstrates better performance as a solvent in the biomass conversion process than conventional organic solvents. This study focuses on the application of new hydrophobic imidazolium-based IL as a solvent in biomass conversion process. A novel IL, namely, 1,3-dipropyl-2-(2-propoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenylimidazolium iodide ([DPDIm]I), was synthesized and subsequently used as a solvent for biomass conversion to produce levulinic acid (LA) and Formic Acid (FA). The performance of [DPDIm]I supported by H2SO4 as a solvent was shown by cellulose conversion into 94.23% of LA and 18.85% of FA at the optimum conditions of 140 °C temperature and the reaction time of two hours. A reusability test revealed the performance of [DPDIm]I as a solvent that can be recycled up to five times for biomass conversion.