Thermodynamic interpretation of catalytic transformation of levulinic acid over supported perovskites catalysts: Dynamic equilibrium and nonlinear Arrhenius behavior investigation | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Thermodynamic interpretation of catalytic transformation of levulinic acid over supported perovskites catalysts: Dynamic equilibrium and nonlinear Arrhenius behavior investigation Tsholofelo Lepedi, Mulisa Maumela, Qiangqiang Xiao, Busiswa Ndaba, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6828523/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 14 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The development of active heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of levulinic acid (LA) is central to the realization of LA as an alternative source of sustainable and renewable fuel. Herein, we investigate the potential use of ABO 3 perovskite catalysts in the conversion of LA to ester products through in-depth thermodynamic analysis using nonlinear Arrhenius plots. In a first of its kind for biomass-derived substrate’s valorization, this study shows that the catalyst support used in immobilizing the active perovskite phases plays a role in the deviations observed in nonlinear thermodynamics plots, such as a high reaction rate experienced with a decrease in temperature resulting in a sub-Arrhenius plot. The ABO 3 Lanthanum-based perovskites LaMO 3 (M = Co, Fe, and Mn) were utilized. These ABO 3 catalysts were supported on silica, alumina and titania. The LaCoO 3 perovskite phases induce different apparent rate constant regimes and showed a super-Arrhenius behavior when supported on SiO 2 (KIT-6) and Al 2 O 3 . This leads to an understanding that thermodynamics are inherently associated with the overall catalyst’s chemical and physical properties. Perovskites thermodynamics levulinic acid kinetics and biomass Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SupportingInformation.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 07 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 05 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 23 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 19 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 18 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 16 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 16 Jun, 2025 Editor invited by journal 10 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 09 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 09 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 05 Jun, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6828523","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":472239527,"identity":"c0459425-5ff3-4d1a-be69-6d8769c2666f","order_by":0,"name":"Tsholofelo Lepedi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Johannesburg","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tsholofelo","middleName":"","lastName":"Lepedi","suffix":""},{"id":472239530,"identity":"04b92b24-d46d-4869-bbc2-53a5ff8acefe","order_by":1,"name":"Mulisa Maumela","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Limpopo","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mulisa","middleName":"","lastName":"Maumela","suffix":""},{"id":472239533,"identity":"c322542b-b6dd-44a1-8d5a-b08253d98550","order_by":2,"name":"Qiangqiang Xiao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Shandong Jianzhu University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Qiangqiang","middleName":"","lastName":"Xiao","suffix":""},{"id":472239534,"identity":"ccb33cda-9e74-4f7b-8f5c-4fa2dc28c441","order_by":3,"name":"Busiswa Ndaba","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of South Africa","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Busiswa","middleName":"","lastName":"Ndaba","suffix":""},{"id":472239535,"identity":"a6842c18-2ab0-4a14-ad79-1b311e3d6557","order_by":4,"name":"Ndzondelelo Bingwa","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA20lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACA2YILcfAwNhAmhZjErRA6UQi1QOBOTvv4de8O+rSN9xubv7wg8FOnoH/8AO8Wiyb+dKsec8czt1w52CbZA9DsmEDwzEDvFoMDvOYGee2HcjdcCOxjYGHgTkB6CeitNSlG9xIbP74h6E+gYGZ/QMhLcaPc9uYE4BaGqR5GA4nMLDx4LfFspnHjPlv22HDmUCHScsYHDds4+EpwKvFnP+M8ceZbXXyfDfSH398U1Etz89/fANeLUDAJoHkTiCXkHogYMbv21EwCkbBKBgFAAnmQP9wwlfnAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"University of South Africa","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ndzondelelo","middleName":"","lastName":"Bingwa","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-05 11:08:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6828523/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6828523/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":84860464,"identity":"46b14200-eb2e-4efe-9796-38e0fc49b71e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-18 06:52:22","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1004996,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manuscriptfinalvesion.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6828523/v1_covered_f29fbae4-7413-402a-84e1-968b7ec51005.pdf"},{"id":84856894,"identity":"f1f0c0da-dc75-46d4-b993-2e97521c8d5a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-18 06:20:19","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":9625876,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"SupportingInformation.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6828523/v1/0b50d465f931431a30992109.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Thermodynamic interpretation of catalytic transformation of levulinic acid over supported perovskites catalysts: Dynamic equilibrium and nonlinear Arrhenius behavior investigation","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"discover-catalysis","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Catalysis](https://link.springer.com/journal/44344)","snPcode":"44344","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44344/3","title":"Discover Catalysis","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Perovskites, thermodynamics, levulinic acid, kinetics, and biomass","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6828523/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6828523/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe development of active heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of levulinic acid (LA) is central to the realization of LA as an alternative source of sustainable and renewable fuel. Herein, we investigate the potential use of ABO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e perovskite catalysts in the conversion of LA to ester products through in-depth thermodynamic analysis using nonlinear Arrhenius plots. In a first of its kind for biomass-derived substrate\u0026rsquo;s valorization, this study shows that the catalyst support used in immobilizing the active perovskite phases plays a role in the deviations observed in nonlinear thermodynamics plots, such as a high reaction rate experienced with a decrease in temperature resulting in a sub-Arrhenius plot. The ABO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e Lanthanum-based perovskites LaMO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Co, Fe, and Mn) were utilized. These ABO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e catalysts were supported on silica, alumina and titania. The LaCoO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e perovskite phases induce different apparent rate constant regimes and showed a super-Arrhenius behavior when supported on SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (KIT-6) and Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e. This leads to an understanding that thermodynamics are inherently associated with the overall catalyst\u0026rsquo;s chemical and physical properties.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Thermodynamic interpretation of catalytic transformation of levulinic acid over supported perovskites catalysts: Dynamic equilibrium and nonlinear Arrhenius behavior investigation","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-18 06:20:14","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6828523/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-07-07T10:35:57+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-05T17:26:11+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"153105451402093895520643634739223723740","date":"2025-06-23T10:07:25+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-23T09:48:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-19T13:51:00+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"131651304778000600142187640578661309567","date":"2025-06-18T12:46:20+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-17T00:54:27+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"143716070917026542772539549742130352909","date":"2025-06-16T16:26:57+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"268936823586465523950866680901147216528","date":"2025-06-16T12:20:39+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-16T11:11:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-10T10:31:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-06-10T03:56:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-06-10T03:55:03+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Catalysis","date":"2025-06-05T10:56:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"discover-catalysis","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Catalysis](https://link.springer.com/journal/44344)","snPcode":"44344","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44344/3","title":"Discover Catalysis","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a00fb848-b9c4-4e63-93a3-1375a8fccd9c","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 18th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-09-29T08:57:16+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-18 06:20:14","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6828523","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6828523","identity":"rs-6828523","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}
Text is read by the "Ask this paper" AI Q&A widget below.
Extraction quality varies by source — PMC NXML preserves structure
cleanly, OA-HTML may include some navigation residue, and OA-PDF can
have broken hyphenation. The publisher copy
(via DOI)
is the canonical version.