Introduction:

Biodiesel is a biomass-derived liquid fuel that has been produced on a large scale during the past few years, and its production is expected to increase in the coming years. Glycerol is the main byproduct in biodiesel production through the transesterification of triglycerides with methanol (about 1kg of crude glycerol is formed as a byproduct for every 9 kg of biodiesel). Therefore, finding new outlets for the effective use of glycerol in useful chemical processes could reduce both environmental pollution and economic losses. Glycerol is an abundant renewable resource for the production of biomaterials, as well as a source for a great variety of chemical intermediates. Glycerol is also an efficient platform for the synthesis of oxygenated compounds such a spolyglycerols and glycerol ethers by means of etherification. New simple and environmentally friendly catalytic routes for the transformation of glycerol to higher-value-added chemicalshave been developed.

 

 

Results:

Reaction path of glycerol etherification using benzyl alcohol.

Reaction path of glycerol using tert-butanol as reactant.

Related Works:

• Carmen M. Dominguez, Arturo Romero, Aurora Santos (2019). Improved etherification of glycerol by tert-butyl alcohol by the addition of dibutyl ether as solvent. Catalysts 2019, 9, 378; doi:10.3390/catal9040378.
• Pilar Pico, M., S. Rodriguez, A. Santos and A. Romero (2013). Etherification of Glycerol with Benzyl Alcohol. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 52(41): 14545-14555.
• Pico, M. P., J. Maria Rosas, S. Rodriguez, A. Santos and A. Romero (2013). Glycerol etherification over acid ion exchange resins: effect of catalyst concentration and reusability. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. 88(11): 2027-2038.
• Pilar Pico, M., A. Romero, S. Rodriguez and A. Santos (2012). Etherification of Glycerol by tert-Butyl Alcohol: Kinetic Model. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 51(28): 9500-9509.