Biofuels additives derived via clay supported heteropoly acid catalyzed etherification of glycerol with t-butanol-biomass to liquid oxygenates

Abstract

A surge in biodiesel production has recently resulted in a surplus of crude glycerol, which has harmed the process' economy. Glycerol etherification with tert-butyl alcohol in the presence of acid catalysts for the generation of ethers (monoethers, diethers, and triethers) is highly recommended by many scientists. Series of phosphotungstic acid (10-60 wt%) supported bentonite (DTP/BNT) catalysts were prepared and evaluated their performances for etherification of glycerol with t-Butanol. The properties of prepared catalysts were investigated using XRD, (FTIR) flourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, TGA/DTA, and mercury porosimeter techniques. The study reveals that increasing reaction time for maximum production of di-and tri-glycerol ethers. Catalytic activity varies with different HPA loadings. The complete conversion of glycerol was obtained, and the selectivity of di-and tri-glycerol ethers was highest (26%) at 110 °C using 40% DTP/BNT catalysts. It is observed that the increase in DTP from 10 to 40% favours an increase in glycerol conversion from 11.52 to 100% with the selectivity of di-and tri-ethers to 26%.

Production of Biofuel Additives Using Catalytic Bioglycerol Etherification: Kinetic Modelling and Reactive Distillation Design

“…In recent years, glycerol ethers have been considered promising oxygenated additives for diesel fuels [4]. The blending of glycerol ethers with diesel enhances internal combustion efficiency, decreases pollutant emissions, and improves fuel properties such as pour and cloud points [5].…”