Complementarity of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis for oleic acid esterification with trimethylolpropane over ion-exchange resins

•Ion-exchange resins were studied in the tri-esterification of OA with TMP.•The final triester is homogeneously generated thanks to the residual oleic acid.•Bulky di- and triesters hinder adsorption/desorption onto resin surface.

This work investigates the effect of Amberlyst 36, Purolite CT482 and Purolite CT275DR on the esterification of oleic acid with trimethylolpropane for production of the triester. The results assess that, while the three resins catalyze heterogeneously the formation of mono- and diesters, the final triester is generated thanks to the acidity of residual oleic acid. This cooperative scenario between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis is of first importance, as to complete the reaction over conventional heterogeneous catalyst was not feasible because of the strong steric hindrance of the intermediate product (diester) and the final product (triester).

Graphical abstractEsterification of oleic acid with trimethylolpropane over ion-exchange resins.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide