Synergistic effect of metals and cross linkers on surface modification of iron aluminum oxyhydroxide-PVA polymer films for enhanced catalytic activity in transesterification reaction

Abstract

Iron-incorporated aluminum oxyhydroxide polyvinyl alcohol films (Fe-Al-PVA) were synthesized using the sol–gel method. The influence of cross-linking agents on the aluminum oxyhydroxide films was investigated by incorporating glutaraldehyde into the synthesized films. Various characterization techniques were employed to understand the physico-chemical properties that affect the catalytic and adsorptive behavior of the self-supported films. The liquid phase transesterification of terpenes was used to test the catalytic activity of the films for the synthesis of industrially important terpene esters. The products were analyzed using GC, GC–MS, and NMR techniques, and optimization studies were carried out under different experimental conditions. The reaction scope was expanded to a wider range of organic compounds, and a possible reaction mechanism was proposed. This study demonstrates the design and modification of efficient bimetallic polymer film catalyst for organic transformations.