Effect of the Structure and Acidity of Zeolites on the Synthesis of Solketal from Glycerol and Acetone

A study is performed to establish the main factors that allow regulation of the activity and selectivity of the synthesis of solketal from glycerol and acetone, and the acidic and catalytic properties of mordenite zeolites (MOR, SiO2 : Al2O3 = 29.2) and faujasite (FAU, SiO2 : Al2O3 = 14.9; 97 and 810). The reaction is studied in a methanol solution at an acetone : glycerol molar ratio of 2.5 and a temperature of 25–50°C. Using zeolites, the main product is solketal with a selectivity of 88.1–94.7%. It is shown that the main factors determining the conversion of glycerol and the yield of solketal are the accessibility of the reagents to active sites, the number and strength of acid sites, and their resistance to the toxic action of water molecules that form during the reaction.