Three-dimensional, mesoporous titanosilicates as catalysts for producing biodiesel and biolubricants

TitleThree-dimensional, mesoporous titanosilicates as catalysts for producing biodiesel and biolubricants
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsKotwal, M, Kumar, A, Darbha, S
JournalJournal of Molecular Catalysis A-Chemical
Volume377
Pagination65-73
Date PublishedOCT
ISSN1381-1169
KeywordsBiodiesel, Esterification of fatty acid, Lubricant basestocks, mesoporous materials, Ti-SBA-12, Ti-SBA-16, Titanosilicates
Abstract

The application of three-dimensional, mesoporous titanosilicates, Ti-SBA-12 and Ti-SBA-16, as reusable solid acid catalysts for producing biodiesel and biolubricants is reported for the first time. Biodiesel was prepared by esterification of oleic acid with monohydric methanol and biolubricants by esterification with polyhydric alcohols (glycerol, trimethylolpropane, neopentyl glycol and pentaerythritol). High catalytic activity of these catalysts is attributed to the presence of dispersed Lewis acidic Ti sites and mesoporosity in the structure. Biodiesel yields as high as 90 mol% were obtained at 443 K. Surface hydrophobicity of the catalyst has also a predominant role, especially, in reactions involving polyhydric alcohols. In those reactions, Ti-SBA-16 showed higher catalytic activity than Ti-SBA-12. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI10.1016/j.molcata.2013.04.029
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)Foreign
Impact Factor (IF)3.679
Divison category: 
Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry