Biofuel Production With Sulfonated High Surface Area Carbons Derived From Glucose. Issue 4 (30th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adhikari, Shiba P.; Hood, Zachary D.; Borchers, Sara; Wright, Marcus; Lachgar, Abdou
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 5:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 1534
• Page End: 1538
• Publication Date: 2020-01-30
• Subjects: Biofuel production -- Esterification -- Free fatty acids -- Solid acid catalysts; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.201901055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: Solid acid carbon catalysts were prepared by activating hydrothermal carbon with potassium hydroxide (KOH) to form high surface area carbon and using an environmentally benign L‐cysteine method for subsequent sulfonation. The textural and physical properties of the solid acid catalysts were characterized by different techniques including Powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in order to understand the functionalization of sulfonic acids on the carbon support. The catalytic activity of the carbon‐based materials towards biofuel production was studied by using the esterification of oleic acid as a prime example. A quantitative yield of 95 % fatty acid methyl ester was achieved using the high surface area sulfonated catalyst (HSC‐SO3 H with SA=1751 m 2 /g) at 80 °C for 4 hours at 1 atm with 10 wt. % of catalyst loading and at a 10 : 1 molar ratio of methanol/oleic acid. Sulfonation of carbon with L‐cysteine represents a promising technique to obtain solid acid catalysts, which are expected to be useful for other applications in Lewis‐acid catalysis, separations, and beyond. Abstract : "Sweet" solid acid catalysts: We report the first demonstration of a sugar‐derived, L‐cysteine‐modified, high surface area carbon as effective catalysts for converting free fatty acids, those commonly found in waste cooking oil, to biofuels. This development is expected to impact the production of biofuels on the basis of catalyst separation and choice of feedstock.