ESTERIFICATION OF FREE FATTY ACIDS IN THE PRESENCE OF CHITOSAN WITH SULFONIC ACID GROUPS

Abstract

Sulfonic acid catalysts supported on chitosan have been studied in the esterification of palmitic, stearic an oleic acid with methanol at 60 ºC. The sulfonic acid groups were introduced onto chitosan by grafting. The catalysts were characterized by elemental analysis, SEM, FT-IR and classic titration. The chitosan with sulfonic acid groups was used as a catalyst in the esterification of oleic and stearic acids with methanol. A good catalytic activity for the different substrates used in the esterifications was observed.