Improving silica foam by incorporating NaY zeolite and heteropoly acid for effective catalysis in esterification and transesterification

Silica foam acts as an adaptable substrate for creating heterogeneous catalysts with customizable shapes. In this research, silica foam was effectively modified with NaY zeolite (Foam/Zeo) and heteropoly acid (Foam/Zeo/HPA) to develop innovative composite materials. Thorough characterization through FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TGA, NH₃-TPD, and BET analyses validated the even distribution of zeolite and heteropoly acid within the silica foam matrix, maintaining its structural integrity. The resulting composites displayed a well-balanced micro-mesoporous structure with increased acidic sites. The catalytic performance of Foam/Zeo and Foam/Zeo/HPA was assessed in the esterification of acetic acid with five distinct alcohols and the transesterification of sunflower oil, animal fats, and waste oils. Foam/Zeo/HPA achieved an impressive esterification efficiency of ۸۹.۹۷%, whereas Foam/Zeo showed greater efficiency in transesterification, reaching ۹۶.۱۳%. Remarkably, both composites preserved over ۹۰% of their catalytic activity after five reaction cycles, indicating excellent reusability and durability. These attributes, along with their balanced acidity and structural stability, highlight the promise of Foam/Zeo and Foam/Zeo/HPA as highly effective and sustainable catalysts for industrial organic reactions, including biofuel production and fine chemical synthesis.

کلیدواژه ها:

Silica foam ، NaY zeolite ، Heteropoly acid ، Esterification ، transesterification