Novel Self‐Solidifying Polymeric Ionic Liquid via Phenolic Condensation as Efficient and Reusable Catalyst for Biodiesel Production
Xueqiang Shao, C. D. Fu, Yujing Zhang, Jinyi Chen, Jinbei Yang, Zhongliang Yao
Abstract
ABSTRACT A novel self‐solidifying polymeric ionic liquid (P‐[DMT‐PS][PHSA]) was synthesized via phenolic condensation and applied as a recyclable acidic catalyst for biodiesel production. The catalyst demonstrated high acidity (4.68 mmol/g), excellent thermal stability, and effective catalytic performance, achieving 98.19% oleic acid conversion under optimized conditions. Notably, P‐[DMT‐PS][PHSA] is soluble during the esterification, allowing it to act as a homogeneous catalyst, and re‐precipitates upon methanol evaporation for easy recovery. Even after 10 cycles, the catalyst maintained 97.0% oleic acid conversion, highlighting its stability and reusability. Additionally, P‐[DMT‐PS][PHSA] exhibits remarkable substrate adaptability, effectively catalyzing the esterification of a range of substrates. This study presents a simple and mild synthesis method for polymeric ionic liquids and showcases P‐[DMT‐PS][PHSA] as a promising alternative to conventional catalysts for biodiesel production.