Solvent-free solketal production from glycerol promoted by yeast activated carbons. (1st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodrigues, Raphael; Santos, Mikaela S.; Nunes, Renan S.; Carvalho, Wagner A.; Labuto, Georgia
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 299(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-01
• Subjects: Activated-carbon -- Yeast -- Solketal -- Glycerol -- Acetalization; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120923
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Yeast biomass waste: a new economically feasible precursor for activated carbon production. Modified activated carbon from yeast biomass waste with above average catalytic activity in the solvent-free glycerol acetalization reaction with acetone. High selectivity toward [1, 3]dioxolan-4-yl-methanols, well known as solketal, throughout the whole catalytic process. Surface chemistry stability in consecutive catalytic runs. Abstract: Chemically activated carbons from yeast biomass waste were produced and later modified by treatment with HNO3 aiming at tuning their surface acid features. The obtained materials were successfully applied as catalyst in a solvent-free solketal production process and the modified series of activated carbons displayed above average catalytic performance reaching glycerol conversion of up to 91% (TOF of 215 h −1 ) with 97% of selectivity toward solketal, as well as remarkable efficiency in consecutive catalytic runs. The physicochemical and surface chemistry properties of the activated carbons were characterized by means of N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, thermal analysis, elemental analysis, surface functional groups titration (Boehm titration), X-rays diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.