title: Glycerol etherification with TBA: high yield to poly-ethers using a membrane assisted batch reactor.
abstract: In this work, a novel approach to obtain high yield to poly-tert-butylglycerolethers by glycerol etherification reaction with tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) is proposed. The limit of this reaction is the production of poly-ethers, which inhibits the formation of poly-ethers potentially usable in the blend with conventional diesel for transportation. The results herein reported demonstrate that the use of a water permselective membrane offers the possibility to shift the equilibrium toward the formation of poly-ethers since the water formed during reaction is continuously and selectively removed from the reaction medium by the recirculation of the gas phase. Using a proper catalyst and optimizing the reaction conditions, in a single experiment, a total glycerol conversion can be reached with a yield to poly-ethers close to 70%, which represents data never before reached using TBA as reactant. The approach here proposed could open up new opportunities for all catalytic reactions affected by water formation.
authors.affiliation: Institute CNR-ITAE "Nicola Giordano" , Via S. Lucia 5, Messina I-98126, Italy.
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cannilla
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonura
authors.forename: Leone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frusteri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frusteri
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry; D004987:Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008970:Molecular Weight; D020002:tert-Butyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D020002:tert-Butyl Alcohol; D005990:Glycerol