Biodiesel wastes: An abundant and promising source for the preparation of acidic catalysts for utilization in etherification reaction

Author(s)

Goncalves, Maraisa ^[1] ; Mantovani, Michelle ^[1] ; Carvalho, Wagner Alves ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Raphael ^[1] ; Mandelli, Dalmo ^[1] ; Albero, Joaquin Silvestre ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, BR-09210170 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Alicante, Dept Quim Inorgan, Lab Mat Avanzados, E-03080 Alicante - Spain

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL; v. 256, p. 468-474, NOV 15 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 23

Abstract

Environmentally friendly sulfonated black carbon (BC) catalysts were prepared from biodiesel waste, glycerol. These black carbons (BCs) contain a high amount of acidic groups, mainly sulfonated and oxygenated groups. Furthermore, these catalysts show a high catalytic activity in the glycerol etherification reaction with tert-butyl alcohol, the activity being larger for the sample prepared with a higher glycerol:sulfuric acid ratio (1:3). The yield for mono-tert-butyl glycerol (MTBG), di-tert-butyl glycerol (DTBG) and tri-tert-butyl-glycerol (TTBG) were very similar to those obtained using a commercial resin, Amberlyst-15. Furthermore, experimental results show that the carbon with the lowest acidic surface group content, BC prepared in minor glycerol:sulfuric acid ratio (10:1), can be chemically treated after carbonization to achieve an improved catalytic activity. The activity of all BCs is high and very similar, about 50% and 20% for the MTBG and DTBG + TTBG, respectively. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/14626-3 - Catalytic convertion of glycerol in liquid and vapor phase to products of higher commercial value
• Grantee: Wagner Alves Carvalho
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/22264-4 - Utilization of lignocelulosic and glycerol wastes for production of catalysts with acidic properties
• Grantee: Maraisa Gonçalves
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants