A novel synthesis route of well ordered, sulfur-bearing MCM-41 catalysts involving mixtures of neutral and cationic surfactants

The effect of the addition of dodecylamine in the direct synthesis of MCM-4 1 silica bearing propylthiol groups, and using cetyltrimethylammonium bromi de as surfactant, is studied. The presence of neutral head groups with shor ter chains, helps the propylthiol groups to accommodate better into the mic elles improving the nucleation and the pore ordering of this mesoporous mat erial. By further oxidation, SO3H-functionalized heterogeneous catalysts wi th high activity and selectivity in the esterification of glycerol with fat ty acids are obtained. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.