Five sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquids were designed and synthesized in order to explore catalysts with high catalytic activity and easy separation for synthesis of biodiesel. First
zwitterion was obtained through reaction between 1-allyl-imidazolium and 1
4-butane sultone. Second
sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquids were synthesized by direct reaction of zwitterion with H2SO4
CF3SO3
H3PW12O40
H3PMo12O40 and H4SiW12O40 respectively. 1H NMR
FTIR and TG/DTA were used to study structure and thermal stability of ionic liquids. The process of catalytic esterification reaction between oleic acid and methanol was used for investigation catalytic activity and reusability of various sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquids. The result showed that all kinds of ionic liquids had high activity ( higher than that of H2SO4 ) and their catalytic activity keep unchanged after four cycles. Three kinds of heteropoly acids based ionic liquids did not dissolve with products
and mixed with products in the state of solid after removal of excessive methanol. The property made them more convenient in separation.