Solvent-free solketal production from glycerol promoted by yeast activated carbons

Abstract Chemically activated carbons from yeast biomass waste were produced and later modified by treatment with HNO3 aiming at tuning their surface acid features. The obtained materials were successfully applied as catalyst in a solvent-free solketal production process and the modified series of activated carbons displayed above average catalytic performance reaching glycerol conversion of up to 91% (TOF of 215 h−1) with 97% of selectivity toward solketal, as well as remarkable efficiency in consecutive catalytic runs. The physicochemical and surface chemistry properties of the activated carbons were characterized by means of N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, thermal analysis, elemental analysis, surface functional groups titration (Boehm titration), X-rays diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.