VASILEIOS MANGOURILOS, LIVIU FILOTTI, ION BOLOCAN, DRAGOS CIUPARU<br>Improving the Catalytic Performance of Ion Exchange Resins <br>in the Etherification of Glycerol with Isobutene

VASILEIOS MANGOURILOS, LIVIU FILOTTI, ION BOLOCAN, DRAGOS CIUPARU
Improving the Catalytic Performance of Ion Exchange Resins
in the Etherification of Glycerol with Isobutene

Abstract:

Ion exchange resins are successfully used as catalysts to convert bio-derived glycerol into its tert-butyl ethers by reaction with isobutene. Here we employ emulsifiers in order to increase the overall process performance as measured by glycerol conversion and selectivity of isobutene to ethers. We have tested the influence of two cationic surfactants on the glycerol conversion and on the distribution of reaction products and observed that use of the appropriate emulsifying agent increased the glycerol conversion favoring the formation of ethers. Moreover, we have systematically investigated the influence of isobutene to glycerol molar ratio and of initial pH of the reaction environment on the performances of the etherification process. Based on the results observed we propose that emulsifiers improve the access of isobutene to the catalyst surface, thus promoting the formation of reaction intermediates in the glycerol phase. However, when the concentration of isobutene is greater than the optimum value the undesired isobutene oligomerization reaction becomes important and the overall process performance declines. Keywords: glycerol, etherification, isobutene, Purolite CT 275, catalysis, emulsifiers, multiphase

Issue: 2016, Volume 67, Issue 5

Pages:

Download Pdf Article

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

<<<< back

PUBLISHING SECTION

Author Guidelines

* Paper Drafting

* Paper Template

* Ethical Statement

* Paper Submission

Ghidul Autorului (ro)

Open Access & Archiving Policy

Search Authors

LATEST NEWS
	NUMAR OMAGIAL PETRU PONI.. detalii
	Revista de Chimie - 70 de ani de aparitie neintrerupta.. detalii
	English-Romanian Dictionary for Mechanical Engineering (download pdf)