Methylation of Glycerol with Dimethyl Sulfate To Produce a New Oxygenate Additive for Diesels

Abstract

A new oxygenate additive for diesels (bio or petroleum) was manufactured using glycerol, dimethyl sulfate (DMS), and sodium hydroxide pellets as raw materials. By feeding the dimethyl sulfate into the batch reactor containing the sodium glycerate, a semibatch mode operation enhanced the effective methylation of glycerol. A conventional stirred tank reactor that can produce large quantities of oxygenate additives under a normal atmospheric pressure operation became the main feature of the methylation process. With a 3:2 molar ratio of DMS to glycerol, a 3:1 molar ratio of sodium hydroxide to glycerol, a 0.43:1 molar ratio of water to sodium hydroxide, and a temperature of 343 K at the reaction time of 24 h with the feeding time of DMS under 12 h, the conversion of glycerol (93.5%) and a combined yield of GDMEs and GTME of 71.2% were achieved for a once-through operation. A product mixture of GDME (20 wt %) and GTME (80 wt %) served as a new oxygenate additive for (bio or petroleum) diesels.

Glycerol-Derived Solvents: Synthesis and Properties of Symmetric Glyceryl Diethers

“…A 30% yield of 1,3-dimethoxy-2propanol was reported. When using dimethyl sulfate as alkylating agent, 36 NaOH was used as base and chloroform as extraction solvent. In this case, a 50% yield of 1,3-dimethoxy-2-propanol was obtained.…”

Methanol-based acetoin production by genetically engineeredBacillus methanolicus

“…Whole cell biocatalysis can be used for production of methylated organic compounds, which are currently synthesized by use of Grignard reagents, diazomethane, methyl iodine, dimethylcarbonate or methyl sulfate, most of which are toxic, flammable or explosive. [26][27][28] Fermentative methylamination using monomethylamine in sugar-based processes led to N-methylated amino acids, however, methanol only contributed to a minor part of the product e.g. sarcosine or N-methyl-L-glutamate and no C-C bond was formed.…”

Glycerol Isopropyl Ethers: Direct Synthesis from Alcohols and Synthesis by the Reduction of Solketal

“…Glycerol ethers are important glycerol derivatives, which are promising for use as motor fuel components, solvents, surfactants, and personal care product components . They can be potentially competitive with their nearest analogs such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol ethers.…”