Synthesis of Alumina Based Alkaline Catalyst for Biodiesel-Derived Glycerol to Polyglycerol

Abstract:

Biodiesel which comes from pure renewable resources provide an alternative fuel option for future. The rapid growth of the biodiesel industry will result in overproduction of less value glycerol and create a superfluity of this impure by-product. The synthesis of alkaline alumina catalyst for polyglycerol production via solvent free base-catalyzed etherification of low value glycerol is reported. The etherification of biodiesel derived glycerol to polyglycerol was studied in a heterogeneous catalysis under solvent free system, using alkalines over γ – alumina catalysts. All the catalysts were prepared by incipient-wetness impregnation of an aqueous solution of alkaline compounds on γ – alumina as a support. The effects of alkaline compound, reaction temperature, catalyst amount, and reaction time in conversion of glycerol to polyglycerol were investigated. The catalyst with potassium loaded on γ -alumina gave the highest basicity and the best catalytic activity for this reaction. The highest glycerol conversion into polyglycerol production was obtained with high yield 79.5% over prepared catalyst respectively. Industrially, the findings attained in this study might contribute towards promoting the biodiesel industry through utilization of its by-products.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1133)
• Pages: 33-37
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1133.33
• Online since: January 2016
• Authors: Muhammad Ayoub*, Abrar Inayat, Sintayehu Mekuria Hailegiorgis, Aamir Hussain Bhat
• Keywords: Alkaline, Alumina, Glycerol Conversion, Heterogeneous, Polyglycerol

References

[1] Ayoub, M., Abdullah, A.Z., 2012, Critical review on the current scenario and significance of crude glycerol resulting from biodiesel industry towards more sustainable renewable energy industry. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Review, 16, 2671–2686.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.01.054

[2] Rahmat, N., Abdullah, A.Z., Mohamed, A.R., 2010. Recent progress on innovative and potential technologies for glycerol transformation into fuel additives: a critical review. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 14, 987–1000.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2009.11.010

[3] Ayoub M. and Abdullah A. Z., 2013, Diglycerol synthesis via solvent-free selective glycerol etherification process over lithium-modified clay catalyst, Chemical Engineering Journal 225, 784-789.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2013.04.044

[4] Martin, A., Richter, M., 2011, Oligomerizatioin of glycerol – a critical review, European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 113, 100–117.

[5] Dartt, C. B., Davis, M.E., 1994, Applications of Zeolites to Fine Chemicals Synthesis. Catalysis Today, 19, 151-186.

DOI: 10.1016/0920-5861(94)85006-2

[6] Barrault J., J. M. Clacens, Y. Pouilloux, 2004, Selective Oligomerization of Glycerol over Mesoporous Catalysts. Top. Catal., 27, 137-142.

DOI: 10.1023/b:toca.0000013548.16699.1c

[7] Kresge, C.T., Leonowicz, E. M, Roth, W.J., Vartuli, J.C., Beck, J.S., 1992, Ordered mesoporous molecular sieves synthesized by a liquid-crystal template mechanism. Nature 359, 710-712.

DOI: 10.1038/359710a0

[8] Kloetstra, K. R., van Bekkum, H., 1997, Solid mesoporous base catalysts comprising of MCM-41 supported intraporous cesium oxide. Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 105, 431-438.

DOI: 10.1016/s0167-2991(97)80585-x

[9] Zhao, D., Feng J., Huo, Q., Melosh, Q., Fredrickson, N., Chmelka, B.F., Stucky, G.D., 1998, Triblock Copolymer Syntheses of Mesoporous Silica with Periodic 50 to 300 Angstrom Pores. Science, 279, 548-552.

DOI: 10.1126/science.279.5350.548

[10] Ayoub M. and Abdullah A. Z., 2011, Instability of SBA-15 to Strong Base: Effects of LiOH Impregnation on its Surface Characteristics and Mesoporous Structure, Journal of Applied Sciences 11 (20), 3510-3514.

DOI: 10.3923/jas.2011.3510.3514

[11] Ayoub M., Abdullah A, Z., Ahmad M., Sultana S., 2014, Performance of lithium modified Zeolite Y catalyst in solvent-free conversion of glycerol to polyglycerols, Journal of Taibah University for Science 9.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtusci.2014.04.001

[12] Xie, W., Li, H., 2006. Alumina-supported potassium iodide as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production from soybean oil. J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 255, 1–9.

DOI: 10.1016/j.molcata.2006.03.061

[13] Clacens, J. M., Pouilloux, Y., Barrault, J., 2002, Selective etherification of glycerol to polyglycerols over impregnated basic MCM-41 type mesoporous catalysts. Applied Catalysis A General, 227, 181–190.

DOI: 10.1016/s0926-860x(01)00920-6