Acidic Mesoporous Silica for the Catalytic Conversion of Fatty Acids in Beef Tallow

Abstract

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.

Biodiesel production from used cooking oil using a novel surface functionalised TiO2 nano-catalyst

“…There are several recent works describing the performance of such promising materials for the biodiesel production [10,19,31,[40][41][42]. The surface modification of mesoporous materials, such as SBA-15, with organosilane sulfonic groups increases the hydrophobic character of the solid acid catalyst surface resulting in high catalytic activity and selectivity toward glycerol in the esterification of FFAs [43].…”

Synthesis of Sulfated Silica-Doped Tin Oxides and Their High Activities in Transesterification

“…Among them, basic solid catalysts exhibit excellent catalytic activities [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14], but the interaction between CO 2 in air with these basic solid catalysts normally results in deactivation of these catalysts. In contrast, acidic solid catalysts which are also active for transesterification [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23], are more chemically stable than basic solid catalysts. As typical acidic solids, sulfated zirconia and tungstated zirconia have been considered to be very effective catalysts for transesterification [20][21][22][23].…”

“…However, these homogeneous catalysts usually have the disadvantages in separation and environmental pollution. Therefore, there is a great interest on developing catalytically active solids in transesterification [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Among them, basic solid catalysts exhibit excellent catalytic activities [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14], but the interaction between CO 2 in air with these basic solid catalysts normally results in deactivation of these catalysts.…”

Esterification of cetyl alcohol with palmitic acid over WO 3 /Zr-SBA-15 and Zr-SBA-15 catalysts

“…Mesoporous silicas were declared as promising catalyst supports in different studies [13,20,21]. Among different mesoporous silica materials SBA-15 was chosen for this study because of its high surface area and much thicker walls and consequently higher hydrothermal stability than MCM-41 [22,23].…”