Ketonization of fatty methyl esters over Sn-Ce-Rh-O catalyst

A mixture of methyl esters of fatty acids obtained by transesterification o f nonerucic rape oil was ketonized. The starting material, diluted with met hanol, was converted at atmospheric pressure over a catalyst that contained Sn, Ce, and Rh oxides in a molar ratio of 90:9:1. At a temperature of 385 degreesC ketones were obtained with a total yield of 63% at the 96% convers ion of starting material. The reported experiments prove that catalysts oth er than iron that are active in ketonization of primary alcohols can be suc cessfully used in ketonization of esters of fatty acids. The kind of diluen t used plays a crucial role in the conversion.