Etherification of Glycerol with Isobutene on Triflic Acid / γAl2O3 Catalyst

摘要

Transforming glycerol in oxygenated compounds by production of ether with isobutene, represents an alternative of capitalizing by using as components for fuel. The selectivity in ethers can be improved by selecting a hydrophilic catalytic support which reduces the secondary reactions of isobutene oligomerization. Etherification experiments were conducted in a batch system in the presence of a triflic acid catalyst supported on powdered γAl2O3. The distribution of the reaction products is influenced by triflic acid concentration, in the range of concentrations studied. Thus the increase of triflic acid concentration of catalyst diminishes the selectivity in monoethers and increases the selectivity in di-and tri-ethers.