The role of mechanochemical treatment of carbon nanotubes in promoting glycerol etherification

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Ptaszynska, K (Author) Other; Eblagon, K.M. (Author) FEUP; Malaika, A (Author) Other; Figueiredo, JL (Author) Other; Kozlowski, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Catalysis Science and Technology

Vol. 14

Pages: 3184-3200

ISSN: 2044-4753

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-FPC

DOI: 10.1039/d4cy00203b

Abstract (EN): High-purity and technical-grade carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were functionalized and compared, for the first time applying various mechanochemical methods to endow their surfaces with strongly acidic features. The as-prepared samples were used as catalysts in glycerol etherification performed with tert-butyl alcohol at 110 degrees C under autogenous pressure, converting glycerol to glycerol tert-butyl ethers, i.e., important fuel additives, in a green way. The best-performing catalyst was the CNT sample ball-milled with glucose and hydrothermally treated with fuming H2SO4, which showed a 52.4% glycerol conversion just after 6 h. The catalytic performance of the sample was ascribed to its improved functionalization when using glucose which worked as a binding agent for the active functional groups, facilitating the grafting of the -SO3H sites on the CNT surface in a relatively short time and at a low temperature of modification. Furthermore, it was found that acidic oxygen functionalities, co-introduced with sulfonic groups during the modification, cooperated with -SO3H sites and jointly worked to enhance the CNT activity in glycerol etherification. Finally, it was shown that adequately tailored technical-grade CNTs could act as promising and much cheaper solid acids than functionalized expensive high-purity CNTs typically used for industrial applications. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were functionalized and compared, for the first time applying various mechanochemical methods to endow their surfaces with strongly acidic features. The as-prepared samples were used as catalysts in glycerol etherification.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17