Sulfonated MCM-41 as potential catalyst to obtain biolubricants from vegetable oil

Biolubricants may be obtained from vegetable oils using appropriate chemical modifications, to improve their physicochemical properties for lubrication applications. In this study, the esterification of a free fatty acid (FFA) with long chain alcohols was performed sulfonated mesoporous silica as catalyst. Fresh and functionalized MCM-41 samples were prepared evaluate effect sulfonic surface group on reaction. via post-synthesis modification 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS) silylating agent. The synthesized catalysts characterized several techniques. After functionalization, decrease in apparent area pore diameter observed. MCM-41/SO3H sample applied reaction oleic (as FFA model) two different long-chain (octanol 2-ethylhexanol). catalytic results reveal that catalyst showed excellent conversions (~ 100% mol when octanol > 93% 2-ethylhexanol) selectivities esters (ca. 90%).