Preparation of 1,3-dioxolane derivatives from glycerol in biodiesel production

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to synthesize 1,3-dioxolane derivatives as additives in fule and palm oil methyl ester. Methyl ester was prepared from transesterification of crude palm oil with methanol in the presence of potassium hydroxide as a catalyst, giving approximately 80-85% of product yield. The glycerol, obtained from the biodiesel process, was reacted with ketones, i.e. acetone, 2-butanone, and cyclohexanone using concentrated sulfuric acid as a catalyst to produce 1,3-dioxolane derivatives. The structures of dioxolane derivatives were identified by spectroscopic techniques, including [superscript1]H, [superscript 13]C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. 1,3-Dioxolane derivatives were blended with based diesel, gasoline and methyl ester at 5 and 10% (v/v), and the physical properties of blended fuels were determined following ASTM method. It was observed that cyclohexylidene glycerol was easily blended with based diesel and methyl ester providing the acceptable fuel specification comparable to those of based fuels. In addition, isopropylidene glycerol could only be blended with gasoline to give fuel with acceptable specification.