<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-style:normal" lang="EN-US">Selective etherification of glycerol with <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic" lang="EN-US"><i>tert</i>-butanol over 12-tungstophosphoric acid catalysts supported on Y-zeolite </span></span></span>

Abstract

Selective etherification of glycerol with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">t</i>-butyl alcohol has been investigated over tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) supported on Y-zeolite. The catalysts have been characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and temperature-programmed desorption of NH₃. The catalytic activity varies with the content of TPA on the support and the catalyst with 20 wt.% TPA shows the high activity. The catalytic activity is found to depend on the acidity which varies with the dispersion of TPA over zeolite. The etherification activity of catalysts has been correlated with the structural aspects and the acidity. Various parameters such as reaction temperature, reaction time, catalyst concentration and molar ratio of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">tert</i>-butanol-to-glycerol have been studied to optimize the reaction conditions.