Highly selective acetalization of glycerol with acetone to solketal over acidic carbon-based catalysts from biodiesel waste

Author(s)

Goncalves, Maraisa ; Rodrigues, Raphael ; Galhardo, Thalita S. ; Carvalho, Wagner A.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FUEL; v. 181, p. 46-54, OCT 1 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 19

Abstract

The glycerol acetalization reaction in the presence of acetone was evaluated using acidic carbon-based catalysts from biodiesel waste as catalysts. Acidic carbon-based catalysts were prepared with different glycerin: sulfuric acid mass ratios at 457 K for 24 h. The amount of acid groups as well as the acidity (mainly attributed to sulfur groups) enhance with an increase of glycerol: sulfuric acid ratio (1: 2 and 1: 3, named GC-1: 2 and GC-1: 3, respectively), reaching 0.9 mmol g(-1) for sulfur and 3.8 mmol g(-1) for total acidity. Very promising results were obtained when these carbon-based catalysts were tested as catalysts in glycerol acetalization, reaching about 80% of glycerol conversion and about 95% of solketal selectivity, this product has been applied as a fuel additive. Furthermore, the carbon-based catalysts surface groups showed high stability under the reaction conditions tested in this study. These results indicated that acidic carbon-based catalysts derived from glycerin are very attractive catalysts for glycerol acetalization. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/22264-4 - Utilization of lignocelulosic and glycerol wastes for production of catalysts with acidic properties
• Grantee: Maraisa Gonçalves
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/21160-6 - Catalytic conversion of glycerol and acetol promoted by metal nanoparticles supported on carbon and molecular sieves
• Grantee: Wagner Alves Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/18529-0 - Preparation of activated carbon with high surface area from biodiesel waste
• Grantee: Maraisa Gonçalves
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers