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Novel Catalytic Etherification Reaction of Glycerol to Short-Chain Polyglycerol

Vahdatzaman, Maral

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Chemical Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
A study that shows a novel technique to treat and enhance solid catalyst morphological properties that can be used in glycerol polymerization etherification reaction is here reported. More specifically, supercritical (SC) CO2 fluid technology and impregnation treatments have been utilized on zeolite Y sodium (ZYS) to increase available pore volume and average pore size, to maximize surface area for reaction to occur, and to enhance the material catalytic activity. SC-treatment on ZYS was performed in a bolt-closure reactor at 260C and 10.34 MPa. Impregnation treatment was performed by immersing the catalyst in solutions with different concentrations of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). After exposing the catalyst to the Na2CO3, calcination took place. Results indicated that SC-treatment does increase the diameter pore size by an average of 46.2 Å, which leads to an increase in available pore volume. Glycerol conversion proved to be at its highest when the catalyst was impregnated; glycerol conversions surpassed 90%. The effect on di/triglycerol selectivities were also studied, and these proved to be a function of reaction time, Na2CO3 concentration, and temperature. The solid catalyst physical and performance properties were studied by accelerated surface area porosimetry (ASAP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and also in a glycerol etherification reaction setup. The best performing catalyst was the SC-treated and impregnated, showing higher meso-to-micro pore distribution, glycerol conversion higher than 90%, and highest di/triglycerol selectivities.
Sunggyu Lee (Advisor)
Monica Burdick (Committee Member)
Douglas Goetz (Committee Member)
Jixin Chen (Committee Member)
64 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Vahdatzaman, M. (2017). Novel Catalytic Etherification Reaction of Glycerol to Short-Chain Polyglycerol [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1491410157911627

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Vahdatzaman, Maral. Novel Catalytic Etherification Reaction of Glycerol to Short-Chain Polyglycerol. 2017. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1491410157911627.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Vahdatzaman, Maral. "Novel Catalytic Etherification Reaction of Glycerol to Short-Chain Polyglycerol." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1491410157911627

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)