Natural oils and fats are emerging as a biobased alternative feedstock to conventional crude oil in the production of chemicals and transportation fuel. However, many of these biobased chemicals are not currently cost competitive with petrochemicals because of high raw material and production costs. To improve the economic outlook of the biobased chemicals, the use of suitable catalysts becomes imperative. Recently, the discovery of advanced material synthesis strategies such as supramolecular-assembled mesoporous materials has created new opportunities in tailoring catalyst properties specifically for the conversion challenges encountered with oils and fats. These nanostructured materials have a combination of extremely high surface areas and flexible pore sizes that makes them attractive for catalysis applications. This article reviews the application of this new class of advanced materials for the conversion of oils and fats to biobased chemicals. Paper no. J11180 in JAOCS 83, 79-91 (February 2006). conversion of natural oils and fats in various reaction systems is then given. 80 REVIEW JAOCS, Vol. 83, no. 2 (2006) FIG. 1. Schematic representation of the synthetic route for mesoporous material formation through supramolecular assembly. REVIEW 81 JAOCS, Vol. 83, no. 2 (2006) FIG. 2. Schematic representation of a mesoporous material functionalized with organic groups on the external and internal surfaces. REVIEW JAOCS, Vol. 83, no. 2 (2006) FIG. 5. Schematic of mesoporous silica functionalized with organosulfonic acid and hydrophobic groups for FA esterification with alcohol. REVIEW 85 JAOCS, Vol. 83, no. 2 (2006) FIG. 6.Stepwise reaction mechanism for TG transesterification with alcohol, producing alkyl esters and glycerol.
Propylsulfonic acid-functionalized mesoporous silica materials were synthesized using a co-condensation technique. The catalytic performance of the resulting acidic mesoporous materials was evaluated in the methanol esterification of free fatty acids in beef tallow as a pretreatment step for alkyl ester production. The multicycle stability of the acid-functionalized mesoporous silica catalysts was studied. Issues concerning impurities in the feedstocks as well as a means of improving performance of the acidic solid catalyst through alternative strategies are discussed. Introduction of a hydrophobic group into the organosulfonic acidfunctionalized mesoporous silica catalyst significantly enhanced the catalytic performance of the catalyst. The catalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts was compared to commercially available homogeneous and heterogeneous acidic catalysts. Propylsulfonic acid-functionalized mesoporous silica materials were synthesized using a co-condensation technique. The catalytic performance of the resulting acidic mesoporous materials was evaluated in the methanol esterification of free fatty acids in beef tallow as a pretreatment step for alkyl ester production. The multicycle stability of the acid-functionalized mesoporous silica catalysts was studied. Issues concerning impurities in the feedstocks as well as a means of improving performance of the acidic solid catalyst through alternative strategies are discussed. Introduction of a hydrophobic group into the organosulfonic acid-functionalized mesoporous silica catalyst significantly enhanced the catalytic performance of the catalyst. The catalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts was compared to commercially available homogeneous and heterogeneous acidic catalysts.
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