Synthesis of Generation-2 polyamidoamine based ionic liquid: Efficient dendrimer based catalytic green fuel production from yellow grease

Abstract

A new series of acidic, dendrimeric polyamidoamine based polymeric ionic liquids of [PAMAM3256Cn] were synthesized with a second generation polyamidoamine dendrimer, alkyl bromides and 1, 3-propane sultone via a two-step procedure. The structure of functional ionic liquids was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The polyamidoamine -1- dodecyl [PAMAM3256C12] catalyst was used for green fuel production via the transesterification of yellow grease. The influence of reaction variables on the green fuel yield was studied using this catalyst. The catalyst was effective having achieved a 93% green fuel yield from yellow grease after 6 h of reaction at 65 °C, using 306.8 mol (10 mmol) (wt % based on molar concentration of lipids) of [PAMAM3256C12] catalyst, a yellow grease-to-methanol molar ratio of 1:20 with a constant agitation speed 800 rpm. The catalyst was showed excellent stability for yellow grease transesterification over four cycles. Additionally, catalysts showed excellent transesterification activity of Jatropha curcas, Ricinus communis, and Pistacia chinensis oil, with green fuel yields of 90, 91, and 92%, respectively. The properties of green fuel were met the ASTM D6751-02 standards. Results indicate that the [PAMAM3256C12] catalyst system shows promising potential as a viable industrial-scale alternative.