Ketone Formation via Decarboxylation Reactions of Fatty Acids Using Solid Hydroxide/Oxide Catalysts

Smith, B; Li, L; Perera-Solis, DD; Gildea, LF; Zholobenko, V; Dyer, PW; Greenwell, HC

Abstract

A sustainable route to ketones is described where stearone is produced via ketonic decarboxylation of stearic acid mediated by solid base catalysts in yields of up to 97%, at 250 °C. A range of Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) and mixed metal oxide (MMO) solid base catalysts were prepared with Mg/Al ratios of between 2 and 6 via two synthetic routes, co-precipitation and co-hydration, with each material tested for their catalytic performance. For a given Mg/Al ratio, the LDH and MMO materials showed similar reactivity, with no correlation to the method of preparation. The presence of co-produced oxide phases in the co-hydration catalysts had negligible impact on reactivity.

• Acceptance Date: Oct 8, 2018
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2018
• Journal: Inorganics
• Publisher: MDPI
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics6040121
• Keywords: base catalysis, mixed metal oxide, layered double hydroxide, liquid phase, ketonisation, biorefinery, fatty acid
• Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics6040121