Assessing the Activity of Solid-Suported SnCl2 Catalysts on the Oleic Acid Esterification for Biodiesel Production

The search for cleaner methodologies has forcing the chemical industry to seek environmentally benign acid catalysts. SnCl2.2H2O is an affordable commercially Lewis acid, water tolerant and easy to handling, cheaper, and less corrosive.

Recently, we have demonstrated that it is an efficient catalyst to produce biodiesel in homogeneous catalysis conditions. In this work, we have supported SnCl2.2H2O over different solid matrix (i.e., such as SiO2, Nb2O5 and ZrO2) and evaluated its catalytic activity in FFA esterification reactions.

In this case, the reaction occurs in heterogeneous phase bringing with itself all the pertinent advantages to this rational system as the best separation of products and reuse of the catalyst. It was appraised reaction parameters such as thermal treatment temperature nature of the support; leaching test was also accomplished.

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