Transesterification of ethyl butyrate with methanol using MgO/CaO catalysts

A series of mixtures of MgO/CaO with different Mg/Ca molar ratios (between 3 and 15), as well as the corresponding pure oxides, was prepared by the coprecipitation method in a basic medium and subsequent calcination. Their textural and structural characterization was carried out by using XRD, FT-IR, SEM and N₂ sorption at 77 K. The alkalinity was studied by CO₂-TPD and catalytic decomposition of 2-propanol. The MgCa oxides obtained after calcination at 1073 K exhibit X-ray diffraction patterns with clearly visible signals corresponding to crystalline CaO and MgO. Textural properties are improved by the presence of Mg, with the porosity increased and the particle sizes decreased with respect to pure CaO. FT-IR spectroscopy reveals the presence of surface carbonate. These catalysts are active in the transesterification of ethyl butyrate with methanol at 333 K and atmospheric pressure, a model reaction to evaluate the potential of these basic catalysts in triglycerides transesterification for biodiesel production. The highest activity was found for a Mg:Ca molar ratio of 3, with conversion close to 60%, whereas MgO was inactive. Moreover, lixiviation of the active phase was not observed thus excluding the contribution of the homogeneous catalysis to the studied transesterification process.     

Preparation of unsymmetrical dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and related esters by enzymatic transesterification

An unexpected highly selective mono-transesterification of symmetrical acetylenedicarboxylates with various alcohols occurred in the presence of Candida rugosa lipase. This reaction allows an efficient preparation of unsymmetrical acetylenedicarboxylates and related α,β-acetylenic esters.     

High-pressure transesterification of sterically hindered esters

A mild, rapid, and efficient method for the solvolysis of sterically hindered esters under high pressure is described. Transesterification is carried out in the presence of DBU at room temperature and at a pressure of 10 kbar to give quantitative conversions within short reaction times. The substrates examined included aromatic and aliphatic esters of sterically hindered alcohols and phenols. An optically pure benzyl ester of phenylalanine was chosen to study racemization of the amino acid esters under high-pressure reaction conditions.     

乙酸氧钛对碳酸二甲酯与苯酚酯交换的催化作用

采用溶剂热法合成了乙酸氧钛,其对碳酸二甲酯(DMC)与苯酚的酯交换合成碳酸二苯酯(DPC)的催化反应显示出了很好的催化效果.乙酸氧钛用量0.10 g时,苯酚转化率即达到47.8%,酯交换选择性在99.9%以上,仅检测到微量副产物苯甲醚.傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和固体核磁共振(13C NMR)等表征结果显示,乙酸氧钛在反应过程中首先与苯酚反应,苯氧基取代乙酸根生成苯氧基钛合物.实验结果表明,苯氧基钛合物作为实际催化剂参与DMC和苯酚的酯交换反应,并且重复使用效果良好.     

紫外分光光度法表征Lipozyme TL IM脂肪酶转酯化活性

建立了一种新的有机相脂肪酶转酯化活性测定方法. 以正己烷为溶剂,脂肪酶催化棕榈酸对硝基苯酯和正丁醇的转酯化反应为模型反应,通过测定反应液中310 nm下吸光值的变化计算反应转化率. 以气相色谱法对新建的紫外分光光度法进行验证,分别采用这两种方法测定了七种商品化脂肪酶的转酯化活性,两种方法所得实验结果基本一致. 利用紫外分光光度检测法考察了Lipozyme TL IM脂肪酶催化转酯化的时间进程及合成活性与酶量的关系,并对Lipozyme TL IM催化转酯化的性质（最适溶剂、酰基受体特异性、醇耐受性、最优反应温度和热力学稳定性）进行了表征.     

Simultaneous determination of main reaction components in the reaction mixture during biodiesel production

The proposed analytical method allows for simultaneous determination by GC using a programed temperature vaporization injector and a flame ionization detector of the main reaction components (i.e. glycerol, methyl esters, mono‐, di‐, and triacylglycerols) in the reaction mixture during biodiesel production. The suggested method is convenient for the rapid and simple evaluation of the kinetic data gained during the transesterification reaction and, also partially serves as an indicator of the quality of biodiesel and mainly, as the indicator of the efficiency of the whole production process (i.e. the conversion of triacylglycerols to biodiesel and its time progress). The optimization of chromatographic conditions (e.g. the oven temperature program, injector setting, amount of derivatization reagent, and the derivatization reaction time) was performed. The method has been validated with crude samples of biodiesel made from waste‐cooking oils in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, sensitivity, and limits of detection and quantification. The results confirmed a satisfactory degree of accuracy and repeatability (the mean RSDs were usually below 2%) necessary for the reliable quantitative determination of all components in the considerable concentration range (e.g. 10–1100 μg/mL in case of methyl esters). Compound recoveries ranging from 96 to 104% were obtained.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of synthesis of palm oil-based trimethylolpropane triester using microwave irradiation

Enhancement of reaction performance utilizing microwave irradiation has drawn so much interest due to its shorter reaction time and low catalyst loading. These advantages are particularly significant from kinetics and thermodynamics perspectives. This study aimed to investigate the kinetics and thermodynamics of microwave-assisted transesterification of palm oil-based methyl ester into biolubricant. The transesterification reaction of palm oil methyl ester (PME) and trimethylolpropane (TMP) was conducted at 110–130 °C for 90 min under vacuum condition. Sodium methoxide was employed as the catalyst at 0.6 wt% of reactants fixed at molar ratio of 4:1 (PME: TMP). The experimental data were fitted with the second-order reversible reaction kinetics mechanisms. The data were solved via Runge-Kutta 4,5 order using MATLAB software. Analysis on the data revealed that the reaction rate constants at temperatures of 110–140 ℃ were in the range of 0.01–0.63 [(w/w)(min)]⁻¹, with standard errors of 0.0026–0.0228 within 99.99% prediction interval. Microwave-assisted reaction obtained 17.0 kcal/mol of activation energy. This method reduced activation energy by 49% as compared to the conventional heating. Activation energy and time-periodic energy assessment showed that the reaction was endothermic. The reaction at 130 °C is the easiest to activate. The positive Gibbs free energy (ΔG > 0) found using Eyring-Polanyi equation indicated that the transesterification was non-spontaneous and endergonic.     

Characterisation of humic substances by acid catalysed transesterification

The chemical composition of low molecular weight moieties linked to the core structures of humic substances (HS) are of substantial importance for the understanding of the chemical structures and mode of interactions of HS with other substances in the environment. In this study a novel approach to characterise certain low molecular weight compounds bound to HS is suggested. The method includes transesterification (TE) of ester and amide bound structures, and esterification (E) of free carboxylic groups using acid catalysed methanolysis followed by gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) and GC-FID analysis. Methanolysis of five HS of different origin, demonstrated the presence of multifunctional hydroxy-substituted benzoic acids, hexoses, and long chain fatty acids. Based on GC-FID and addition of the internal standard before methanolysis, the total amounts of low molecular weight material could be estimated. In case of HS from the aqueous sources the yields were below 1%, whereas in case of the HS derived from lignite the yield was significantly higher. The hydrophobic long chain fatty acids constituted about one-third of this material. Principal component analysis (PCA), which was used for extended data evaluation, differentiated between the samples in terms of chemical composition.     

Thermal degradation of poly(l-lactide): Accelerating effect of residual DBU-based organic catalysts

1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) organic catalyst has generated a tremendous impact in the metal-free ring-opening polymerization of (di)lactones. Interestingly, its extraction after use has never been studied so far and a simple deactivation by addition of benzoic acid to generate the corresponding salt has always been supposed to kill its activity. This study reveals and highlights the importance of the work-up to remove or at least drastically limit the presence of the benzoic acid/DBU salt from poly(l-lactide). Three different extraction methods allowed us to conclude that a two-step work-up gathering liquid/liquid extractions and a drop by drop precipitation is highly required to keep the enantiomerically pure lactic acid polymer safe. If not perfectly extracted the benzoic acid/DBU salt has been proved to degrade the materials during a melt process even during a differential scanning calorimetry experiment.     

酶法合成α亚麻酸型多烯磷脂酰胆碱的研究

为合成含有α-亚麻酸(α-LNA)的多烯磷脂酰胆碱,我们用高纯度蛋黄磷脂和含亚麻酸油脂在定向脂肪酶的催化下进行了酯交换反应研究,考察了亚麻酸分子形式、反应体系、含水量、底物浓度比及原料亚麻酸纯度对结合率的影响,结果表明,以正己烷作反应介质,加入较高纯度的亚麻酸乙酯(含量72.7%),底物浓度比1∶3(g/g),加水量1.0%,脂肪酶20%,在45℃恒温水浴下,搅拌反应12h.卵磷脂的亚麻酸结合率可达20%以上.