Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior of AlTf/UVM-7 as new green catalysts for the glycols etherification reactions Original Research Article

Bimodal porous Al–UVM-7 system materials with different Si-to-Al ratios were prepared using the Atrane route. These were converted in strong acid heterogeneous AlTf-based catalysts after the treatment with methanolic solutions of triflic acid. The materials so obtained were used as catalysts for the conversion of ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG) with octanol under solvent-free conditions. The process is selective to short ethoxylated structures resulting in the corresponding monoethers. While the conversion of EG and PG was very high (>94%) irrespective of the support characteristics, 1-octanol was transformed only in low degree (3–35%), and its conversion depends on both the Si/Al molar ratio and the catalyst texture (Al–UVM-7 or AlTf–UVM-7). Recyclable experiments showed the catalysts are stable and the reuse occurred without changes in the chemical composition.