Esterification of lauric acid with butanol over mesoporous materials

Mesoporous silica (e.g. SBA-15) was evaluated in the esterification of lauric acid with butanol. ZnO/SBA-15 and MgO/SBA-15 were synthesized and characterized using N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms at 77 K, 29Si magic angle spinning solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (29Si MAS NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Small-Angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The nanostructural parameters obtained from SAXS analysis were very similar for all samples revealing that the impregnation method for incorporation of Zn and Mg in mesoporous silica did not affect its structure. Both catalysts ZnO/SBA-15 and MgO/SBA-15 were able to promote the esterification reaction of lauric acid with 1-butanol at mild reactions conditions.

► Zn-SBA-15 and Mg-SBA-15 mesoporous silicas were prepared.
► The nanostructural parameters obtained by SAXS analyses are very similar for all samples.
► The catalysts were able to promote the esterification of lauric acid with 1-butanol at ambient pressure.