Solventless esterification of glycerol with p-methoxycinnamic acid catalyzed by a novel sulfonic acid mesoporous solid: reaction kinetics

As a way to valorise glycerol, the main by-product of biodiesel, this study is focused on production esters p-methoxycinnamic acid and glycerol. These can replace hazardous octylmethoxycinnamate in cosmetic industry, which thought act as an endocrine disruptor interfere with thyroid function. Several sulfonated mesoporous catalysts, without endcapping, were easily synthetized using several alcohols porogens. catalysts characterized for structure surface area, chemical composition acidity, tested under solventless conditions esterification glycerol acid. Their activity was similar that p-toluenesulfonic The best reaction end-capped solid prepared isopropanol. Finally, selected catalyst 9 runs conducted at 150–170 °C molar ratios glycerol:p-methoxycinnamic ranging from 3:1 9:1. kinetic model better fits experimental data comprises two reactions in-series first-order deactivation. activation energies 87.33 ± 5.67 kJ mol?1 average monoglycerides, 69.17 9.84 yielding diglycerides, 104.00 15.30