Preparation of Low Calorie Structured Lipids Catalyzed by 1,5,7-Triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene(TBD)-functionalized Mesoporous SBA-15 Silica in a Heterogeneous Manner

Abstract

1,5,7-Triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD, a strong bicyclic guanidine base) functionalized SBA-15 material has been found to be an efficient solid catalyst for the interesterification between tributyrin and methyl stearate in a solvent-free system for the production of low-calorie structured lipid (LCSL). The solid base catalyst was characterized by using small-angle X-ray scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermo gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and elemental analysis techniques. The obtained LCSL was analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for triacylglycerol composition. The influence of various reaction parameters, such as the substrate ratio, reaction temperature, and reaction time, on the interesterification reaction was investigated systematically. More than 90% LCSL was obtained at 80 °C within 1 h when the methyl stearate/tributyrin molar ratio of 2:1 was employed. The obtained solid catalyst could be recovered easily and reused for several recycles with a negligible loss of activity. By using the solid base catalyst, an eco-friendly more benign process for the interesterification reaction in a heterogeneous manner was developed.