An Ionic Liquid Promoted Clean and Direct Conversion of Triglycerides into Bio‐Based Thermal Energy Storage Materials

Abstract

In the present study, triglycerides are subjected to an ionic liquid (IL) catalyzed and solventless transesterification reaction with a series of fatty alcohols in a 1:3 ratio, respectively. In order to prepare the corresponding wax esters, triglycerides trilaurin, trimyristin, and tristearin are treated with fatty alcohols such as lauryl, myristyl, and stearyl alcohol via 1,3‐disulfonic acid imidazolium chloride catalyzed transesterification reaction under environmentally friendly conditions. The optimum duration of the transesterification reaction is determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the progress of the reaction can also be easily followed by thin layer chromatography. According to these studies, the reaction takes about 2 h to complete and the corresponding wax esters are obtained successfully by recrystallization from suitable solvent mixture without tedious work‐up in good to excellent yields (86–100%). Practical Applications: With this sustainable method, a homologous series of wax esters can be successfully synthesized as bio‐based thermal energy storage materials. The prominent aspect of this solventless method is that it allows the preparation of wax esters directly from triglycerides via an ionic liquid catalyzed process both in laboratory and industrial scale.