Zirconium-containing metal organic frameworks as solid acid catalysts for the esterification of free fatty acids: Synthesis of biodiesel and other compounds of interest

• Zr-MOFs are active, stable and reusable catalysts for free fatty acid esterification.
• Fatty acids with various chain length and unsaturation degrees are studied.
• Biodiesel compounds, wax esters and cosmetic products can be prepared over MOFs.

Zr-containing metal organic frameworks (MOFs) formed by terephthalate (UiO-66) and 2-aminoterephthalate ligands (UiO-66-NH2) are active and stable catalysts for the acid catalyzed esterification of various saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with MeOH and EtOH, with activities comparable (in some cases superior) to other solid acid catalysts previously reported in literature. Besides the formation of the corresponding fatty acid alkyl esters as biodiesel compounds (FAMEs and FAEEs), esterification of biomass-derived fatty acids with other alcohols catalyzed by the Zr-MOFs allows preparing other compounds of interest, such as oleyl oleate or isopropyl palmitate, with good yields under mild conditions.

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