Novel Esterification of Glycerol Catalysed by Tin Chloride (II): A Recyclable and Less Corrosive Process for Production of Bio-Additives

• Published in: Catalysis letters Vol. 141; no. 8; pp. 1111 - 1117
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, Cayo Emilio, Laier, Letícia Oliveira, Silva, Márcio José da
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-08-2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetates; Acetic acid; Additives; Analysis; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Corrosion and anti-corrosives; Esterification; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Glycerin; Glycerol; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Lewis acid; Nuclear fuels; Organic acids; Organometallic Chemistry; Physical Chemistry; Production processes; Selectivity; Sulfuric acid; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Tin chloride; Toluene; Glycerol; Bio-additives; Tin chloride; Esterification; Water; Acid reaction; Selectivity; Potential; Sulfuric acid; Additive; Brönsted acid; Synthesis; Carboxylic acid; Reactor; Lewis acid; Catalytic reaction; Hydrocarbon; Toluene; Reuse; Acetate; Sulfonic acid; Corrosion; Fuel; Benzenic compound; Acetic acid; Catalyst; Neutralization
• ISSN: 1011-372X; 1572-879X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10562-011-0570-x

In this work, a novel process based on use of a SnCl
2
·2H
2
O catalyst which is less corrosive, inexpensive, and a water tolerant Lewis acid was employed for synthesis of fuel bio-additives from glycerol. High yields and selectivities were achieved for glycerol esterification with acetic acid under mild reaction conditions. The SnCl
2
catalyst showed to be as active as p-toluene sulfonic and sulfuric acid, catalysts commonly used in acid-catalysed esterification reactions. However, its use has significant advantages in comparison to these Brønsted acid catalysts, including lower reactor corrosion and unnecessary neutralization at the end reaction. The SnCl
2
catalyst can also be recovered and reused without loss of catalytic activity. Additionally, effects of reaction temperature, HOAc:glycerol molar ratio and catalyst concentration on both selectivity and yield of glycerol acetates were also investigated. The lower corrosiveness, facilitated handling, as well as potential for reuse without activity loss after simple recycle protocols are positive aspects of SnCl
2
catalysts.
Graphical Abstract
SnCl
2
-catalyzed glycerol esterification with HOAc at the molar ratio of 3:1 at 60 °C.