Highly active organosulfonic aryl-silica nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for biomass derived biodiesel and fuel additives

Post-grafting methodologies were used to prepare aryl-organosulfonic acid functionalized silica nanoparticles (SO3H-aryl-SiO2NPs) as highly active heterogeneous catalysts for catalytic esterification of free fatty acids (FFA) and levulinic (LA), aldol condensation furfural with 3-methylfuran, well known renewable feedstocks biodiesel fuel additives production. The chemical structural characterization the SO3H-aryl-SiO2NPs confirmed success functionalization. Complete conversion all FFA was observed using after 2 h reaction. SiO2NPs_CSPTMS showed be most stable catalyst no significant loss activity in first 5 cycles. In LA presence an alcohol, complete selectivity high reusability (e.g., 83.2% yield 10 cycles 1-propanol, SiO2NPs10_CSPTMS, at 120 °C 2h reaction). Finally, 3-methylfuran had been performed almost 100% min 65 °C, stability 7 general, prepared have demonstrated promising performance transformation biomass-derived into additives.