One‐Pot Synthesis of Biomass‐Derived Surfactants by Reacting Hydroxymethylfurfural, Glycerol, and Fatty Alcohols on Solid Acid Catalysts

A new type of biomass-derived non-ionic surfactants has been obtained by reacting hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), glycerol, and fatty alcohols. For instance, 5-(octyloxymethyl)furfural glyceryl acetal can be obtained in a one-pot process by etherification of HMF with fatty alcohols followed by acetalization with glycerol. For a successful solid catalyst, acidity and polarity have to be optimized to improve conversion, selectivity, and catalyst deactivation owing to the different adsorption characteristics of the reactant molecules. Accordingly, Beta zeolite with a high Si/Al ratio and practically free of connectivity defects showed good results when dealing with these biomass derivatives, which include a highly polar reactant such as glycerol. The scope of the reaction is good and a variety of new stable surfactant molecules can be obtained that present hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB ) values in the range 4.9 to 6.6, which are of interest for water in oil emulsions.