*2.2.1 Homogeneous acid catalyst*

The reaction by homogeneous acid catalyst is promoted by the protonation of one of the glycerol hydroxyl groups: a mechanism of SN1 as shown in **Figure 3**. A carbocation is formed by splitting off a water molecule, followed by nucleophilic attack of a hydroxyl group of another glycerol molecule. Then, the formed ether is

**Figure 2.** *Etherification of glycerol to polyglycerols.*

*Glycerol Conversion to Diglycerol via Etherification under Microwave Irradiation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90513*

#### **Figure 3.**

products are required. Residue glycerol will be separated, and then water has to be removed from the raw diglycerol, and, finally, the product has to be subjected to a fine distillation. The reaction of glycidol or epichlorohydrin with glycerol has in common that the coupling OH groups are not confined to the terminal positions but also the middle OH groups of glycerol can be involved as well. This leads to the

The etherification reaction of glycerol to produce value-added diglycerol has been extensively studied either using homogeneous or heterogenous alkali or acid catalysts. The etherification reaction is normally conducted under solvent-free condition for economical and environmental reasons [7]. Etherification is a condensation process whereby two glycerol molecules will react to form ether bond in between the molecules by removing water molecule. This reaction is also called etherification since the final product is in ether form as shown in **Figure 2**. Glycerol oligomers can be in linear, branched, or cyclic form [11]. The formation of different isomers is affected by the reaction conditions such as temperature, time, catalyst type, catalyst loading as well as the starting raw material for diglycerol synthesis. Diglycerols are mostly obtained from the oligomerization of glycerol catalyzed by

The reaction by homogeneous acid catalyst is promoted by the protonation of one of the glycerol hydroxyl groups: a mechanism of SN1 as shown in **Figure 3**. A carbocation is formed by splitting off a water molecule, followed by nucleophilic attack of a hydroxyl group of another glycerol molecule. Then, the formed ether is

formation of primary or secondary dimer of glycerol.

**2.2 Homogeneous catalyzed reaction for selective diglycerol**

*2.1.4 Catalytic reaction method*

*Apolipoproteins,Triglycerides and Cholesterol*

acid or based catalysts.

**Figure 2.**

**120**

*Etherification of glycerol to polyglycerols.*

*2.2.1 Homogeneous acid catalyst*

*SN1-type mechanism for glycerol oligomerization in acid-catalyzed homogeneous reaction.*

deprotonated, yielding the respective diglycerol [1]. Acid-catalyst oligomerization used sulfuric acid at 280°C in 2 hours giving more than 90% conversion of glycerol, and the main oligomers were triglycerol and tetraglycerol which only make the 20% of overall component, showing other side products were dominant in the reaction which were hardly identified [6].

Reported studies suggest that homogeneous acid-catalyzed reaction is generally fast but not selective for diglycerol. This could be due to the dehydration or oxidation of glycerol as secondary reactions to other undesired products. These secondary reactions may also result in the deterioration of the main product quality by changing its color, making the final product darker in appearance.

#### *2.2.2 Homogeneous base catalyst*

The reaction with glycerol conversion under basic homogeneous catalyst is proposed to follow an SN2 mechanism as shown in **Figure 4**. In SN2, the interaction of the base OH with glycerol weakens one of the glycerol OH bonds and enhances nucleophilic character of the hydroxyl oxygen. The attack of this polarized glycerol to a carbon of a second glycerol with simultaneous split off water results in diglycerol.

Several homogeneous bases have also been studied as catalysts in glycerol etherification. Depending on their basicity and solubility in glycerol, the following order of activity was reported under reaction temperature of 260°C at 4 hours with 2.5 mol% of catalyst:

#### K2CO3>Li2CO3 > Na2CO3>KOH > NaOH > CH3ONa>LiOH > MgCO3>CaCO3*:*

Based on solubility measurements, the higher activity of carbonates than that of hydroxides was indeed ascribed to a better solubility of the former in glycerol and in the polyglycerol mixture at elevated temperature [6]. However, there are several studies presented that contradict the results from the proposed theory on solubility. A study conducted by [9] of glycerol conversion using Cs2CO3, CsOH, and CsHCO3 showed 20% glycerol conversion and 100% diglycerol selectivity; hence, different anions did not alter the reaction characteristics. From the research carried out by

**Figure 4.** *SN2-type mechanism for glycerol oligomerization in base-catalyzed homogeneous reaction.*

[7], their studies reflected that the pH of the mixture of catalyst with glycerol which increased in the order LiOH, NaOH, KOH, and Na2CO3 was the main factor of high glycerol conversion and diglycerol selectivity. One hundred percent glycerol conversion was achieved for LiOH and NaOH catalysis system with 21 and 18% diglycerol selectivity, respectively. This could be resulted from the nature of lithium metal as the most active metal due to highest alkalinity, smallest ionic size, and highest atomic electronegativity [7].

heating; however, based on the publications, researchers are mainly focus on studying the dielectric heating effects and mechanisms because this heating effect is more significant. Dielectric heating occurs due to the dielectric properties on the reacting medium. For example, materials with high dielectric constant tend to absorb microwave; however, poor dielectric property compounds are poor electromagnetic wave absorber. Hence, microwave is highly applied in organic reactions. In conventional heating, heat is transferred through conduction and convection in which the heat is transferred from the sides/surface of a substance, then only travel to the center of targeted heating medium. This heating method is dependent on the heating flask properties such as thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, density, etc. Hence, the portion of heat will be loss to the environment during heating. When compared to microwave heating, the heating duration using microwave to achieve the same temperature could be dramatically reduced. **Figure 5** shows the heating mechanism for both conventional heating and microwave

*Glycerol Conversion to Diglycerol via Etherification under Microwave Irradiation*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90513*

Microwave radiation serves as an alternative to conventional heating especially

**Bonding and microwave Energy (eV)** Brownian motion at 37°C 2.7 <sup>10</sup><sup>3</sup> Biological compound 13.6 Covalent bond 5 Hydrogen bond 2 Van der Waals intermolecular interactions <2 Microwave at 0.3 GHz 1.24 <sup>10</sup><sup>6</sup> Microwave at 2.45 GHz (domestic oven) <sup>1</sup> <sup>10</sup><sup>5</sup> Microwave at 300 GHz 1.24 <sup>10</sup><sup>3</sup>

in organic synthesis. The advantages of microwave heating over conventional heating are accelerating chemical reactions and promoting higher conversion and selectivity and low energy consumption as reported by [14] with respect to the same operating conditions under microwave heating. Plenty of studies have been carried out on the application of microwave in organic synthesis, for example, reactions in solvent-free condition, polymer synthesis, homogeneous and heteroge-

neous catalysis, medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, etc. [15].

*Heating mechanisms for (a) conventional heating and (b) microwave heating.*

heating.

**Table 1.**

**Figure 5.**

**123**

*Energy of different bonds and microwaves.*

Raw material choice on polyglycerol production is also very crucial in polyglycerol generation. A study done by [8] argued that polyglycerol production can be carried by the self-polymerization of crude glycerol which contained different amounts of soap (as homogeneous-based catalyst) which was originally presented in the crude glycerol samples. The experiment was carried out at 260°C under microwave heating; within 1 hour, the sample of soap with a highest soap content of 12.5% gave the highest conversion (94.94%) with 47.99% diglycerol. This study supported the claim by [7], whereby the higher the pH, the higher is the conversion and diglycerol selectivity. Besides, they also found that the processes with different feedstocks affected the amount of soap contained in the crude glycerol, preferably the refined, bleached, deodorized palm oil (RBDPO) which generated the highest amount of soap, creating a favorable condition for selfpolymerization.

The shortcomings from homogeneous catalysis system include low selectivity to small-size polyglycerols which is the desired product of polyglycerols; uncontrollable oligomerization of glycerol which produces larger polyglycerols together with smaller polyglycerols would result in separation issue.

#### **2.3 Heterogeneous catalyzed reaction for selective diglycerol**

Recently, the main focus on catalytic etherification is on the implementation of heterogeneous catalyst in the etherification reaction to overcome the shortcomings of using homogeneous catalyst whereby the reactions are performed on solid materials of limited solubility [1]. Mesoporous solids modified by cesium impregnation or exchange lead to the best selectivity and yield to diglycerol in which 100% of diglycerol was produced after 10 hours reaction time [12]. The etherification activity was improved by the impregnation of LiOH with acid-treated montmorillonite K-10 (clay MK-10) [13]. Researchers reported that the clay Li/MK-10 catalyst gave a favorable result in selectively producing diglycerol which yielded 53% with high glycerol conversion of about 98%. However, the drawbacks of using heterogeneous catalyst are the leaching of metal from solid support into the liquid mixtures and instability of the solid support, resulting in dropping in efficiency to cater the reaction.

#### **2.4 Microwave and conventional heating**

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves which consist of both electric and magnetic fields that fall within 0.3–300 GHz on electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths ranging from 0.01 to 1 m. Within the specific frequency range, the microwave transmits energy between 1.24 <sup>10</sup><sup>6</sup> and 1.24 <sup>10</sup><sup>3</sup> eV. **Table 1** shows the energy of different chemical bonds and microwaves [14]. With the energy lower than the Brownian motion, microwave will not be able to induce chemical reactions through bond breaking.

Microwave heating is a direct heating method which is highly dependent on the properties of materials to convert electromagnetic to heat energy. The two ways of inducing heat into a systems via microwave are dielectric heating and magnetic loss

## *Glycerol Conversion to Diglycerol via Etherification under Microwave Irradiation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90513*

heating; however, based on the publications, researchers are mainly focus on studying the dielectric heating effects and mechanisms because this heating effect is more significant. Dielectric heating occurs due to the dielectric properties on the reacting medium. For example, materials with high dielectric constant tend to absorb microwave; however, poor dielectric property compounds are poor electromagnetic wave absorber. Hence, microwave is highly applied in organic reactions.

In conventional heating, heat is transferred through conduction and convection in which the heat is transferred from the sides/surface of a substance, then only travel to the center of targeted heating medium. This heating method is dependent on the heating flask properties such as thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, density, etc. Hence, the portion of heat will be loss to the environment during heating. When compared to microwave heating, the heating duration using microwave to achieve the same temperature could be dramatically reduced. **Figure 5** shows the heating mechanism for both conventional heating and microwave heating.

Microwave radiation serves as an alternative to conventional heating especially in organic synthesis. The advantages of microwave heating over conventional heating are accelerating chemical reactions and promoting higher conversion and selectivity and low energy consumption as reported by [14] with respect to the same operating conditions under microwave heating. Plenty of studies have been carried out on the application of microwave in organic synthesis, for example, reactions in solvent-free condition, polymer synthesis, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, etc. [15].


#### **Table 1.**

[7], their studies reflected that the pH of the mixture of catalyst with glycerol which increased in the order LiOH, NaOH, KOH, and Na2CO3 was the main factor of high glycerol conversion and diglycerol selectivity. One hundred percent glycerol conversion was achieved for LiOH and NaOH catalysis system with 21 and 18%

diglycerol selectivity, respectively. This could be resulted from the nature of lithium metal as the most active metal due to highest alkalinity, smallest ionic size, and

Raw material choice on polyglycerol production is also very crucial in polyglycerol generation. A study done by [8] argued that polyglycerol production can be carried by the self-polymerization of crude glycerol which contained differ-

ent amounts of soap (as homogeneous-based catalyst) which was originally presented in the crude glycerol samples. The experiment was carried out at 260°C under microwave heating; within 1 hour, the sample of soap with a highest soap content of 12.5% gave the highest conversion (94.94%) with 47.99% diglycerol. This study supported the claim by [7], whereby the higher the pH, the higher is the conversion and diglycerol selectivity. Besides, they also found that the processes with different feedstocks affected the amount of soap contained in the crude glycerol, preferably the refined, bleached, deodorized palm oil (RBDPO) which gener-

ated the highest amount of soap, creating a favorable condition for self-

smaller polyglycerols would result in separation issue.

**2.4 Microwave and conventional heating**

chemical reactions through bond breaking.

**2.3 Heterogeneous catalyzed reaction for selective diglycerol**

The shortcomings from homogeneous catalysis system include low selectivity to small-size polyglycerols which is the desired product of polyglycerols; uncontrollable oligomerization of glycerol which produces larger polyglycerols together with

Recently, the main focus on catalytic etherification is on the implementation of heterogeneous catalyst in the etherification reaction to overcome the shortcomings of using homogeneous catalyst whereby the reactions are performed on solid materials of limited solubility [1]. Mesoporous solids modified by cesium impregnation or exchange lead to the best selectivity and yield to diglycerol in which 100% of diglycerol was produced after 10 hours reaction time [12]. The etherification activity was improved by the impregnation of LiOH with acid-treated montmorillonite K-10 (clay MK-10) [13]. Researchers reported that the clay Li/MK-10 catalyst gave a favorable result in selectively producing diglycerol which yielded 53% with high glycerol conversion of about 98%. However, the drawbacks of using heterogeneous catalyst are the leaching of metal from solid support into the liquid mixtures and instability of the solid support, resulting in dropping in efficiency to cater the

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves which consist of both electric and magnetic fields that fall within 0.3–300 GHz on electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths ranging from 0.01 to 1 m. Within the specific frequency range, the microwave transmits energy between 1.24 <sup>10</sup><sup>6</sup> and 1.24 <sup>10</sup><sup>3</sup> eV. **Table 1** shows the energy of different chemical bonds and microwaves [14]. With the energy lower than the Brownian motion, microwave will not be able to induce

Microwave heating is a direct heating method which is highly dependent on the properties of materials to convert electromagnetic to heat energy. The two ways of inducing heat into a systems via microwave are dielectric heating and magnetic loss

highest atomic electronegativity [7].

*Apolipoproteins,Triglycerides and Cholesterol*

polymerization.

reaction.

**122**

*Energy of different bonds and microwaves.*

#### **Figure 5.** *Heating mechanisms for (a) conventional heating and (b) microwave heating.*

Theories that are applied to explain the effect of microwave in enhancing a reaction are based on thermal and nonthermal effects as presented by [14] in **Table 2**.

the microwave irradiation was much shorter than the etherification carried out by conventional heating which required at least 6 hours, whereas it took only 1 hour for

*Glycerol Conversion to Diglycerol via Etherification under Microwave Irradiation*

Microwave irradiation-assisted heating found to be a cost-efficient technology to be applied for the biodiesel conversion into polyglycerol. The application of modified heterogenous base catalyst could minimize the waste besides being compatible for the reaction of biodiesel waste into polyglycerol. Besides, it has provided insight on the oligomerization reaction of glycerol to maximize the yield of the valuable di-, tri-, and tetraglycerol oligomers for numerous applications with current industrial

The authors would like to thank the Yayasan Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS with research grant FRGS 0153AB-L63 for providing financial support for this

, Manzoor Ahmad<sup>2</sup>

, Ranitha Mathialagan<sup>1</sup>

, Sami Ullah<sup>5</sup> and Salman Raza Naqvi<sup>3</sup>

,

microwave heating.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90513*

**3. Conclusion**

demand.

study.

**Acknowledgements**

**Author details**

Sarah Farrukh<sup>3</sup>

Muhammad Ayoub<sup>1</sup>

PETRONAS, Malaysia

Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

provided the original work is properly cited.

**125**

\*, Wan Jie Wei1

Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia

of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology, Malaysia

1 Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Department of Chemical

2 Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universiti Teknologi

3 Department of Chemical Engineering, National University of Science and

5 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University,

\*Address all correspondence to: muhammad.ayoub@utp.edu.my

4 Bioengineering Technology Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

, Mohammed Danish<sup>4</sup>

Most of the studies on microwave effects describe the presence of hot spots or localized heating which enhances the chemical reactions due to direct adsorption of radiation by the polar molecules. Microwave energy is transferred through the relaxation of polar molecules, thus promoting molecular friction and collision [10]. As reported by [15], the hot spot will possess higher energy at the active sites, promoting the activities of the species adsorbed on the catalyst surface, whereas [16] presented that the conversion of hydrogen sulfide is higher than the theoretical equilibrium conversion; however, the results from conventional heating are similar to the theoretical value. They claimed that the reaction temperature at some site in the catalyst bed was much higher than the average temperature measured. However, studies by [14] illustrated that the occurrence of hot spot on catalyst surface is more likely to lower the catalytic activities, hence reducing the productivity. For an exothermic reaction, for example, the desulfurization, both microwave and conventional, provides similar conversion at the same operating conditions. Further increment in temperature in microwave system would cause the conversion to drop (lower than conventional heating), due to the shifting of equilibrium to less favorable reactions [16].

Besides localized heating effects, decreasing in the activation energy and improving the pre-exponential factor are the two main factors in enhancing microwave-assisted organic synthesis. When inducing microwave, a portion of the radiation heats up the system due to microwave thermal effects; another portion directly interacts with chemical or catalytic reaction system to reduce the activation energy, changing the interior energy level of molecules. The increment in the preexponential factor is due to the effective collision between molecules assisted by electromagnetic wave which change the movement of the molecules from disordered motion to ordered motion [17].

Even though in most cases microwave heating enhances the reactions, in the reaction with high sensitivity to the temperature change especially in a strong exothermic reaction, conventional heating would be preferred. The study in Fischer glycosidation showed a higher conversion under conventional heating which may be due to the higher overall reaction time, and the reaction temperature is reached smoothly. The reaction under conventional heating does not present localized overheating which can be found in microwave heating. Localized overheating in microwave was observed from the temperature overshoot above the desired temperature, causing glucose decomposition [18].

For the etherification reaction, most of the researches were conducted by conventional heating, and typical reaction times were longer than 8 hours. Microwave radiation is proven to be a more effective heating method in the etherification of glycerol. The required reaction time to produce targeted polyglycerols facilitated by


**Table 2.**

*Microwave heating mechanisms via thermal and nonthermal effects.*

*Glycerol Conversion to Diglycerol via Etherification under Microwave Irradiation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90513*

the microwave irradiation was much shorter than the etherification carried out by conventional heating which required at least 6 hours, whereas it took only 1 hour for microwave heating.
