The esterification of glycerine with lauric acid catalyzed by multi-valent metal salts. Selective formation of mono- and dilaurins

Multi-valent metal salts, such as zirconium, ferric, and aluminum salt hydrates gave high catalytic activity for the esterification of glycerine (GL) with lauric acid (LA) without the solvent. Among them, ZrOCl2 · 8H2O and AlCl3 · 6H2O gave lauric acid monoglyceride (Monolaurin; ML) in high selectivity. Fe2(SO4)3 · nH2O and Zr(SO4)2 · 4H2O gave lauric acid diglyceride (Dilaurin; DL) even in the excess of GL.