Novel synthesized microporous ionic polymer applications in transesterification of Jatropha curcas seed oil with short Chain alcohol

Abstract

New suites of sulfonic acid-functionalized microporous ionic polymers (PIPs) catalysts were synthesized with polymer, alkyl bromides, and 1, 3-propane sultone via a two-step procedure. The synthesized microporous PIP catalysts were characterized using FT-IR, SEM-Mapping, XPS, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, solid NMR spectroscopy, and element analysis. Esterification of several fatty acids with ethanol, which was used as a model reaction in the stabilization of Jatropha curcas seed oil, was checked over functionalized PIP. We tested the catalytic performance of PIP-C8 on the synthesis of fatty acid esters via the transesterification of J. curcas seed oil with a mixture of short-chain alcohols such as ethanol, ethanol–to–diethyl carbonate (1;1 molar ratio), and ethanol–to–dimethyl carbonate (1:1 molar ratio) with 170 mg of PIP-C8 at reflux temperature with agitation. The PIP-C8 catalyst was particularly effective, having achieved yields of 85%, 94%, and 70% for J. curcas seed oil with ethanol, J. curcas seed oil with ethanol–to–DEC, and J. curcas seed oil with ethanol–to–DMC, respectively, under the optimized reaction conditions. The catalyst could be recycled more than five times without significant deactivation. Kinetic studies performed at different temperatures revealed that the conversion of oleic acid to an ethyl ester follows a first-order reaction. The best catalysts with microporous structure (average pore diameter: 1.7–1.9 nm, pore volume: 0.23–0.33 cm3 g–1) and –SO3H density (0.70–0.84 mmol/gcat) were obtained by 1, 3-propane sultone of the chemically activated. The results indicate that the site activity of functionalized microporous ionic polymer materials shows promising approach for the development of environmentally friendly technology.