Graphene Oxide: An Efficient Acid Catalyst for Alcoholysis and Esterification Reactions

Evidence is presented for graphene oxide (GO), prepared by modified Hummers method, as a highly active, selective and reusable solid-acid catalyst for the production of alkyl levulinates via alcoholysis or esterification. 95.5 % yield of ethyl levulinate was achieved by GO in furfuryl alcohol alcoholysis. Moreover, the surface SO3H groups were identified as the primary active sites, while the surface carboxyl groups worked synergistically to adsorb furfuryl alcohol.