Synthesis of solketal from glycerol and its reaction with benzyl alcohol

Abstract

Due to the high growth of biodiesel production, glycerol, a major by-product from transesterification, is also produced at the same growing rate, resulting in its oversupply. This situation brings the price of glycerol to drop dramatically. Solketal, a derivative from glycerol, can be utilized by blending with gasoline or biodiesel as an additive. This work studies the synthesis of solketal from glycerol and acetone using homogeneous acid catalyst. The reaction progresses successfully when using the acetone in excess. Subsequently, the prepared solketal is used for synthesizing benzyl solketal ether by performing reaction with benzyl alcohol. However, several other products such as benzyl glycerol ether, dibenzyl ether and glycerol are formed. It was found that the high ratio of solketal to benzyl alcohol is required to increase selectivity toward benzyl solketal ether. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.