Pillared H-MCM-36 mesoporous and H-MCM-22 microporous materials for conversion of levoglucosan: Influence of varying acidity

[Display omitted] ► Transformation of levoglucosan was investigated over zeolites and mesoporous materials. ► H-MCM-36 with different acidities were synthesized, characterized and tested. ► The effect of pillaring on the test reaction was investigated. ► Glycolaldehyde was the main oxygenated species formed. Catalytic transformation of levoglucosan (1-6-anhdyro-β- d-glucopyranose) was carried out in a fixed bed reactor at 573 K over H-MCM-22 and pillared H-MCM-36 with different acidities. The yield of the products, phases and product distribution was influenced mainly by the acidity of the zeolite catalysts. Oxygenated species were the main liquid product, consisting foremost of aldehydes and furfural. The formation of the liquid products was higher over MCM-36 pillared materials than over MCM-22 for all the oxygenated species except acetone. The deactivation due to coking was less severe over the pillared materials compared to the microporous precursor. However, it was possible to successfully regenerate the spent zeolites without changing the structure.