Divalent metal glycerolates were synthesized and investigated in the methyl transesterification of refined soybean oil. Higher conversions to monoacylesters were obtained for strontium and barium monoglycerolates and calcium diglycerolate. Calcium diglycerolate was shown to be stable up to a third reuse cycle, decomposing to an inactive mixture of CaCO3 and Ca(OH)2.
metal glycerolates; heterogeneous catalysts; transesterification; methyl esters; biodiesel
