Selective Catalytic Hydrogenation of Fatty Acids with Cobalt-Halloysite Nanocomposites for Waste Valorization

Environmentally friendly catalytic composites based on cobalt and a natural clay as catalytically active phase and support, respectively, are herein reported for the valorization of fatty acids and esters, in particular for wastes coming from agri-food industry, by selective hydrogenation processes. The as-prepared innovative materials are constituted of zero-valent cobalt nanoparticles immobilized on both pristine halloysite and an ammonium-functionalized clay, with the former support exhibiting better particle distribution on the support as only Co agglomerates could be obtained for ammonium-functionalized halloysite. Under optimized conditions (5 mol % Co, 120 degrees C, 40 bar), high conversions and remarkable chemoselectivity were observed, leading to the exclusive formation of saturated fatty acids or esters, as well as the formation of tristearin used as a food additive.

Automated summary

Environmentally friendly catalytic composites based on cobalt and natural clay are used for selective hydrogenation of fatty acids and esters from agri-food industry wastes. Optimized conditions resulted in high conversions and chemoselectivity, producing saturated fatty acids or esters and tristearin as a food additive.