abstract
Biodiesel is one of the most significant and valuable alternatives to fossil fuels. In the process of transesterification to produce biodiesel from various feedstocks, glycerol is one of the side products obtained, in a high glycerol: biodiesel weight ratio (1:10). Therefore, the growing world demand for biodiesel prompted a glycerol surplus. It is, thus, of interest to find new and added-value paths for the transformation of this abundant chemical. One of the most auspicious glycerol applications is the production of fuel additives, namely cyclic acetals and ketals, from aldehydes and ketones, respectively. In this work, coordination polymers based on nitrile (trimethylphosphonic acid) and Ln(3+)/Eu3+ are used as catalysts for the acetalization of the bio-renewable glycerol into oxygenated fuel additives. Solketal is the major product obtained from the reaction of glycerol with acetone. This product improves the cold flow properties, lowering the viscosity of biodiesel, improving combustion, and boosting the octane number. The stability of the materials is studied as well as their recovery and reuse.
keywords
FUEL ADDITIVES
subject category
Chemistry, Physical
authors
Santos-Vieira, ICMS; Mendes, RF; Paz, FAA; Rocha, J; Simoes, MMQ
our authors
Filipe Alexandre Almeida Paz
Principal Researcher
Isabel Cristina Maia da Silva Santos Vieira
Junior Researcher
João Rocha
Full Professor
Ricardo Faria Mendes
Junior Researcheracknowledgements
This work received financial support from PT national funds (FCT/MCTES, Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia and Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior) through LAQV-REQUIMTE (UIDB/50006/2020) and CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020). The position held by I.C.M.S.S.-V. (Ref. 197_97_ARH-2018) was funded by national funds (OE), through FCT, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of article 23 of the Decree-Law 57/2016 of 29 August, changed by Law 57/2017 of 19 July. R.F.M. gratefully acknowledges FCT for a Junior Research Position (CEECIND/00553/2017).