Triflate-catalyzed (trans)esterification of lipids within carbonized algal biomass

Robert B. Levine; Alexandra A. Bollas; Matthew D. Durham; Phillip E. Savage

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.055

Triflate-catalyzed (trans)esterification of lipids within carbonized algal biomass

Robert B. Levine, Alexandra A. Bollas, Matthew D. Durham, Phillip E. Savage

Chemical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study demonstrates the utility of rare-earth metal triflate catalysts (i.e., Sc(OTf) ₃ and In(OTf) ₃) in the (trans)esterification of oleic acid as well as the lipids contained within carbonized algal biomass using ethanol in the presence of water. Both catalysts are highly active between 200 and 235°C with an ethanol:fatty acid (EtOH:FA) molar ratio of 10-20:1 and showed a high tolerance for moisture. Lipids within hydrochars produced by reacting Chlorella protothecoides paste (25% solids) in high temperature water (220-250°C) were successfully converted into fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). The highest FAEE yields (85-98%) were obtained when hydrochars were reacted for 60min at 215°C with about 11-13mol% Sc(OTf) ₃, a 17-19:1 EtOH:FA molar ratio, and without water. FAEE yields remained as high as 93% in the presence of 9wt.% water. Our preliminary results warrant further work to optimize triflate-catalyzed in situ (trans)esterification at low catalyst and ethanol loadings.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	222-229
Number of pages	8
Journal	Bioresource technology
Volume	111
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.055
State	Published - May 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Bioengineering
Environmental Engineering
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Waste Management and Disposal

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.055

Cite this

@article{b0fedc95f22942448092f12c3d6b7145,

title = "Triflate-catalyzed (trans)esterification of lipids within carbonized algal biomass",

abstract = "This study demonstrates the utility of rare-earth metal triflate catalysts (i.e., Sc(OTf) 3 and In(OTf) 3) in the (trans)esterification of oleic acid as well as the lipids contained within carbonized algal biomass using ethanol in the presence of water. Both catalysts are highly active between 200 and 235°C with an ethanol:fatty acid (EtOH:FA) molar ratio of 10-20:1 and showed a high tolerance for moisture. Lipids within hydrochars produced by reacting Chlorella protothecoides paste (25% solids) in high temperature water (220-250°C) were successfully converted into fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). The highest FAEE yields (85-98%) were obtained when hydrochars were reacted for 60min at 215°C with about 11-13mol% Sc(OTf) 3, a 17-19:1 EtOH:FA molar ratio, and without water. FAEE yields remained as high as 93% in the presence of 9wt.% water. Our preliminary results warrant further work to optimize triflate-catalyzed in situ (trans)esterification at low catalyst and ethanol loadings.",

author = "Levine, {Robert B.} and Bollas, {Alexandra A.} and Durham, {Matthew D.} and Savage, {Phillip E.}",

note = "Funding Information: RBL acknowledges financial support from a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and a University of Michigan Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute Fellowship. We also gratefully acknowledge financial support from the University of Michigan College of Engineering and from the U.S. National Science Foundation (CBET-1133439). ",

year = "2012",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.055",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "111",

pages = "222--229",

journal = "Bioresource technology",

issn = "0960-8524",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Triflate-catalyzed (trans)esterification of lipids within carbonized algal biomass

AU - Levine, Robert B.

AU - Bollas, Alexandra A.

AU - Durham, Matthew D.

AU - Savage, Phillip E.

N1 - Funding Information: RBL acknowledges financial support from a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and a University of Michigan Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute Fellowship. We also gratefully acknowledge financial support from the University of Michigan College of Engineering and from the U.S. National Science Foundation (CBET-1133439).

PY - 2012/5

Y1 - 2012/5

N2 - This study demonstrates the utility of rare-earth metal triflate catalysts (i.e., Sc(OTf) 3 and In(OTf) 3) in the (trans)esterification of oleic acid as well as the lipids contained within carbonized algal biomass using ethanol in the presence of water. Both catalysts are highly active between 200 and 235°C with an ethanol:fatty acid (EtOH:FA) molar ratio of 10-20:1 and showed a high tolerance for moisture. Lipids within hydrochars produced by reacting Chlorella protothecoides paste (25% solids) in high temperature water (220-250°C) were successfully converted into fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). The highest FAEE yields (85-98%) were obtained when hydrochars were reacted for 60min at 215°C with about 11-13mol% Sc(OTf) 3, a 17-19:1 EtOH:FA molar ratio, and without water. FAEE yields remained as high as 93% in the presence of 9wt.% water. Our preliminary results warrant further work to optimize triflate-catalyzed in situ (trans)esterification at low catalyst and ethanol loadings.

AB - This study demonstrates the utility of rare-earth metal triflate catalysts (i.e., Sc(OTf) 3 and In(OTf) 3) in the (trans)esterification of oleic acid as well as the lipids contained within carbonized algal biomass using ethanol in the presence of water. Both catalysts are highly active between 200 and 235°C with an ethanol:fatty acid (EtOH:FA) molar ratio of 10-20:1 and showed a high tolerance for moisture. Lipids within hydrochars produced by reacting Chlorella protothecoides paste (25% solids) in high temperature water (220-250°C) were successfully converted into fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). The highest FAEE yields (85-98%) were obtained when hydrochars were reacted for 60min at 215°C with about 11-13mol% Sc(OTf) 3, a 17-19:1 EtOH:FA molar ratio, and without water. FAEE yields remained as high as 93% in the presence of 9wt.% water. Our preliminary results warrant further work to optimize triflate-catalyzed in situ (trans)esterification at low catalyst and ethanol loadings.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858751125&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84858751125&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.055

DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.055

M3 - Article

C2 - 22401713

AN - SCOPUS:84858751125

SN - 0960-8524

VL - 111

SP - 222

EP - 229

JO - Bioresource technology

JF - Bioresource technology

ER -

Triflate-catalyzed (trans)esterification of lipids within carbonized algal biomass

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this