Exceptional ambient temperature photocatalytic valorization of glycerol to triacetin: advancing sustainability to enhance low temperature properties of diesel-biodiesel-triacetin blend

• Published in: Molecular catalysis Vol. 585; p. 115384
• Main Authors: Maske, Rutuja Ganesh, Patil, Vijay Shivaji, Mataghare, Bhairav Chandroday, Channe, Vaibhav Devidas, Yadav, Piyush Radheshyam, Giradkar, Sakshi Ravindra, Chowdhury, Asmita, Chawade, Nitesh Suresh, Kumar, Annamalai Senthil, Patle, Dipesh Shikchand, Bhagat, Pundlik Rambhau
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2025
• Subjects: Diesel-biodiesel-triacetin; Fuel additive; Glycerol; Photo-esterification; Porphyrin photocatalyst; Glycerol; Diesel-biodiesel-triacetin; Photo-esterification; Fuel additive; Porphyrin photocatalyst
• ISSN: 2468-8231; 2468-8231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mcat.2025.115384

•Porphyrin Comprising Triazole Based IL with sultone functionalities was achieved.•PcTBILSF photocatalyst was confirmed various analytical techniques.•Porphyrin exhibited prominent photo-acetylation of Glycerol to Triacetin.•Protocol achieved 91 % Triacetin under 5 W LED, 0.02 wt. % catalyst, 1:5 ratio in 20 h.•Diesel-biodiesel-triacetin (80:15:5) blend reduce Pour/Cloud point compared to Diesel. The conversion of biomass derived glycerol into triacetin (diesel-additive) involved the photo-esterification/photo-acetylation by different catalysts. The generation of triacetin is crucial to achieve industrial value-added compound. Thus, creating a commercial and environmental-friendly heterogeneous photocatalyst is a necessary aspect for applications in renewable energy. To accomplish this, a novel metal-free sulphonic acid entangled porphyrin photocatalyst, was prepared from 1-(4-formylphenyl)-4-(4-sulfobutyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium hydrogen sulphate and pyrrole (1:1) in acetic acid solvent. The synthesized photocatalyst was confirmed by various characterization techniques. The surface area and energy band gap were scrutinized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and cyclic voltammetry respectively. The absence of metal was evidenced by powder X-ray diffraction, and four Q-bands in UV–Visible spectrum. The optimum energy band gap (1.82 eV), along with Soret band at 426 nm and four Q bands at 518, 553, 590, 664 nm, supported the visible light absorption by the porphyrin, promoting photo-acetylation/photo-esterification in the visible region. The proton level, Hammett acidity (H0 = 0.647) of porphyrin reinforced photocatalytic activity. The synthesized porphyrin photocatalyst presented excellent photo-esterification/photo-acetylation with 91 % of triacetin achieved from glycerol with acetic acid in 1:5 ratio, 0.02 wt % photocatalyst under 5 W LED light-irradiation for 20 h. Moreover, the heterogeneous nature of photocatalyst proved by compatibility with glycerol for fuel-additive generation and recyclability till 6th cycle. The blended Diesel-biodiesel-triacetin (80:15:5) mixture found a remarkable decrease in cloud point, pour point, while comparable calorific value and kinematic viscosity, found comparable to commercial Diesel. [Display omitted]