New publication on sulfonated PEEK catalysts for etherification and esterification reactions
TUM.PtX News |
Etherification and esterification reactions are crucial because their products are widely used in various applications, including the food and pharmaceutical industries, as fuels, and as chemical intermediates. The production of these chemicals in a more sustainable way plays a pivotal role in moving towards a greener chemistry. With evolving requirements on plant design, synthesis routes and renewable feedstocks, the selection of the catalyst needs to be adjusted accordingly. The biggest challenge is maintaining activity and stability of the catalyst at the required reaction temperatures. Sulfonated poly (ether ether) ketone (sPEEK) has therefore been recognized as suitable polymeric solid-acid catalyst.
Within the scope of the publication, sPEEK spherical catalysts have been synthesized and tested for their stability and activity. For etherification, the reaction of methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) was investigated with the sPEEK showing the highest conversion rates at 170 °C. Performance tests were also conducted for the esterification of oleic acid and 1-decanol, as well as the synthesis of alkyl levulinates with sPEEK catalysts outperform commercial catalysts while remaining their stability. Further investigations on morphology and ion exchange capacity revealed synergistic effects also affecting the catalysts performance.
Overall, an active and stable heterogeneous catalyst for etherification and esterification at elevated temperatures has been successfully identified and thoroughly investigated. The authors advise for additional research on the materials properties to further enhance the catalyst, enabling its application across a broader range of reactions.
[1] Greve A., et al. “SPEEK-based temperature-resistant catalyst for etherification and esterification reactions.” Applied Catalysis O: Open 190 (2024) 206951.
