Solvent free synthesis of methyl palmitate over sulfated zirconia solid acid catalyst

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 165; pp. 298 - 305
• Main Authors: Saravanan, K., Tyagi, Beena, Shukla, Ram S., Bajaj, Hari C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Esterification; Methyl palmitate; Palmitic acid; Solid acid catalyst; Sulfated zirconia; Methyl palmitate; Palmitic acid; Solid acid catalyst; Esterification; Sulfated zirconia
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2015.10.043

The esterification of palmitic acid with methanol resulted into 90% yield of methyl palmitate at 60°C over 6wt% of conventional sulfated zirconia catalyst under solvent-free conditions. [Display omitted] •SZr solid acid catalyst prepared by simple precipitation method and characterized.•Excellent activity for esterification of palmitic acid with methanol.•Higher yield of methyl palmitate under solvent free and mild reaction condition.•Yield of alkyl palmitate decreased from methanol to n-butanol.•Activity comparable with H2SO4, though decreased in re-cycling due to sulfur loss. Sulfated zirconia (SZr) solid acid catalyst, prepared by conventional precipitation technique was studied for esterification of palmitic acid with methanol to synthesize methyl palmitate. The catalyst exhibited 90% yield of methyl palmitate at 60°C over 6wt% catalyst. The yield was significantly higher under solvent-free conditions than using hexane as a solvent. The alkyl palmitate yield was decreased with an increase in the alkyl chain of alcohol from methanol to n-butanol. The reaction followed pseudo-first order kinetics under the optimized reaction conditions with a reaction rate of 0.61mmolh−1, rate constant of 12.13×10−3h−1 and turn over frequency of 0.088min−1.