Acetalization of acetone with glycerol catalyzed by niobium-aluminum mixed oxides synthesized by a sol-gel process

Author(s)

Rodrigues, Raphael ; Mandelli, Dalmo ; Goncalves, Norberto S. ; Pescarmona, Paolo P. ; Carvalho, Wagner A.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR CATALYSIS A-CHEMICAL; v. 422, p. 9-pg., 2016-10-01.

Abstract

Niobium-aluminum-based catalysts were synthesized by a sol-gel process and successfully applied to the reaction of acetalization of acetone with glycerol yielding 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol (solketal) and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-ol. The synthesis procedure was developed using high throughput techniques and the materials prepared with molar ratio1 Metal (1Nb:xAl): 100H(2)O: 1.5NH(4)OH (in which x =1, 0.6, 0.3, 0.1 and 0.05) were selected to be further investigated. The obtained series of mixed oxides displayed high catalytic activity reaching glycerol conversion up to 84%, with 98% of selectivity towards solketal. The physicochemical properties of the investigated catalysts were characterized by N-2-adorption/desorption, thermal analysis, X-rays diffraction, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, and by adsorption of pyridine monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy and TGA. The catalysts are truly heterogeneous and can be reused in consecutive runs without loss of activity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• 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