Cesium exchanged tungstophosphoric acid supported on tin oxide: An efficient solid acid catalyst for etherification of glycerol with tert-butanol to synthesize biofuel additives

• Cs exchanged TPA catalysts are selective for glycerol etherification.
• Glycerol etherification activity depends on the acidity of the catalysts.
• Acidity of the catalysts depends on amount Cs exchanged with TPA and support.
• Surface-structural properties depend on the amount of CsTPA on SnO2.

Cesium exchanged tungstophosphoric acid (CsTPA) supported on tin oxide catalysts were prepared and their physio-chemical properties were derived from X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, laser Raman spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption of NH3. The catalysts activity was evaluated for etherification of glycerol with tert-butanol. The characterization results of the catalysts revealed that the primary Keggin structure remained intact during the exchange of TPA protons with Cs+ ions. The activity results showed that etherification activity depended on the amount of the CsTPA over SnO2 and the catalyst with 20 wt% CsTPA supported on SnO2 showed high catalytic activity with 90% glycerol conversion with 44% selectivity toward higher ethers. The activity of the catalyst depends on amount of surface acidic sites and dispersion amount of CsTPA over SnO2. The etherification reaction was carried at different reaction parameters and optimum reaction conditions were established. The catalysts were recyclable and showed constant activity up on reuse.

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