I. Diaz et al., Combined alkyl and sulfonic acid functionalization of MCM-41-Type silica -Part 2. Esterification of glycerol with fatty acids, J CATALYSIS, 193(2), 2000, pp. 295-302
The esterification of glycerol with lauric and oleic acids (1:1 molar ratio
) has been carried out by using hybrid MCM-41 materials containing simultan
eously alkyl (methyl or propyl) and sulfonic acid groups as catalysts. It h
as been found that for each fatty acid the catalyst activity is affected by
the concentration of methyl groups, and maximum activity per sulfonic acid
group is achieved by tuning the methyl/sulfonic acid ratio. A monolaurin y
ield of 63% is obtained with the most active catalyst, whereas for oleic ac
id the maximum monoolein yield was 45%. Reduction of the average pore size
(determined by N-2 adsorption) from 14 to below 10 Angstrom has a detriment
al influence on the catalyst activity for both acids. (C) 2000 Academic Pre
ss.