Glycerol etherification with TBA: high yield to poly-ethers using a membrane assisted batch reactor.

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Catalysis
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Glycerol etherification with tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) is crucial for producing poly-ethers.
• Poly-ether formation is limited by reaction equilibrium, hindering the production of valuable blend components for diesel fuel.
• Water generated during the reaction inhibits poly-ether synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel approach for high-yield production of poly-tert-butylglycerol ethers.
• To overcome the equilibrium limitations in glycerol etherification using TBA.
• To enable the use of poly-ethers in blends with conventional diesel.

Main Methods:

• Glycerol etherification reaction with tert-butyl alcohol (TBA).
• Implementation of a water-permselective membrane for continuous water removal.
• Recirculation of the gas phase to shift reaction equilibrium.
• Optimization of catalyst and reaction conditions.

Main Results:

• Achieved near-total glycerol conversion in a single experiment.
• Reached a poly-ether yield of approximately 70%, a significant improvement over previous methods.
• Demonstrated effective shifting of reaction equilibrium by selective water removal.
• Validated the potential of the membrane technology for enhancing etherification reactions.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method using a water-permselective membrane significantly enhances glycerol etherification with TBA.
• This approach overcomes equilibrium limitations, leading to unprecedented yields of poly-ethers.
• The technology offers a promising solution for catalytic reactions limited by water formation, with applications in biofuel and chemical synthesis.