Transesterification of Triolein over Hydrophobic Microporous Carbon with SO3H Groups

Abstract SO 3 H‐bearing microporous amorphous carbon with a large BET surface area (≈2000 m 2 g −1 ) and a high density of SO 3 H groups (0.5 mmol g −1 ) was investigated as a solid acid catalyst for the transesterification of triolein and esterification of oleic acid with methanol. The separable and reusable carbon catalyst exhibits higher catalytic performance for both reactions than conventional homogeneous and heterogeneous acid catalysts, including sulfuric acid, at 353 K. This carbon catalyst can provide methyl oleate yields over 99 %, even in a triolein–oleic acid mixture that resembles a crude vegetable oil, owing to efficient transesterification and esterification reactions. The carbon material is sufficiently hydrophobic to be distributed throughout the hydrophobic triolein phase, resulting in high catalytic performance for both reactions.