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The activity of MOF-5-based solids has been exploited in the simultaneous transesterification and esterification of acid vegetable oils. For this purpose, three different types of MOF-5 have been synthesized and characterized, and then tested in the above-mentioned reactions. It has been demonstrated that the "regular MOF-5" was a suitable catalyst for biodiesel synthesis from waste oil also, rich in FFA (Free Fatty Acids). Moreover, to identify the true structure that acts in the reactions and possible structural modifications due to the presence of alcohols, proper studies have been performed. The results have evidenced a distortion of the regular structure of MOF-5 due to the breakage of some zinc bonds between the cluster and organic framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with the preparation of biolubricant basestocks through the ring-opening reaction of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) by alcohols in presence of solid acid catalysts (SAC-13 resin). To this end, different experimental runs were carried out in a lab-scale reactor, analyzing the effect of the alcohol (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, 2-butanol), catalyst mass loading (from 1 to 10 wt % with respect to the oil mass) and operating temperature (60-90 °C). The main focus of investigation was oxirane conversion. The study was complemented by FT-IR, ¹H NMR and kinematic viscosity characterization of the different products of the ring-opening reaction. Experimental conversion data were fitted through a suitable kinetic model. Values of the best-fitting parameters in terms of rate constant, activation energy and catalyst reaction order were obtained, and were potentially useful for the design of an industrial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]