Synthesis of monoglycerides by esterification of oleic acid with glycerol in heterogeneous catalytic process using tin-organic framework catalyst

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Lik H. Wee - , KU Leuven (Author)
  • Tristan Lescouet - , Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (Author)
  • Julia Fritsch - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Francesca Bonino - , University of Turin (Author)
  • Marcus Rose - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Zhijun Sui - , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Author)
  • Eva Garrier - , Novance Rue les Rives de l'Oise, Venette (Author)
  • Dirk Packet - , Novance Rue les Rives de l'Oise, Venette (Author)
  • Silvia Bordiga - , University of Turin (Author)
  • Stefan Kaskel - , Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I (Author)
  • Moti Herskowitz - , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Author)
  • David Farrusseng - , Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (Author)
  • Johan A. Martens - , KU Leuven (Author)

Abstract

Selective synthesis of monoglycerides by esterification of glycerol with fatty acids is a difficult reaction because of immiscibility of reagents and the formation of di- and tri-glyceride by-products. In this work a heterogeneous catalytic process was conceived in which the reactant mixture was homogenized using tert-butanol solvent. Candidate catalysts were screened in the reaction of oleic acid with glycerol. While under such reaction conditions zeolites were rather inactive, metal-organic frameworks and, especially, tin-organic frameworks were found promising. A tin-organic framework (Sn-EOF) was most active and achieved ≥98 % monoglyceride selectivity at 40 % conversion in catalyzing esterification of oleic acid with glycerol at a low reaction temperature of 150 C. Leaching of tin from Sn-EOF catalyst was suppressed by limiting the amount of oleic acid in the starting mixture. Characterization of the acid sites of Sn-EOF by pyridine-chemisorption and FTIR revealed Lewis acidity to be responsible for the catalytic activity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)356-363
Number of pages8
JournalCatalysis letters
Volume143
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 13 Feb 2013
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Esterification, Monoglycerides, Oleic acid, tert-Butanol, Tin-organic framework