Engineering topics
Sadula, Sunitha
Publications and source records attributed to Sadula, Sunitha.
Process intensified lauric acid self-ketonization and its economic and environmental impact on biolubricant base oil production
Intensified lauric acid self-ketonization and its impact on biolubricant base oil production.
Synthesis of Long Chain Oxygenates via Aldol Condensation of Furfural and Acetone over Metal–Organic Frameworks
Not provided.
Production of neo acids from biomass-derived monomers
Neo acids are highly branched carboxylic acids currently produced from fossil fuels. In this work, we produce renewable neo acids from lignocellulosic biomass-derived furan and keto acids via C–C coupling through hydroxyalkylation/alkylation (HAA), followed by ring-opening of furans through hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Here, we show effective C–C coupling over acid catalysts. Catalyst screening and multi-parameter optimization using machine learning optimize the yield and elucidate the correlation between variables and outcomes. We demonstrate selective furan ring-opening without affecting the carboxylic acid to make neo acids using a co-catalyst involving Pd supported on carbon and metal triflate.
Highly selective cross ketonization of renewable acids over magnesium oxide
The rising demand for linear alkylbenzene surfactants (LAS) poses an environmental threat as LAS are industrially produced from petroleum using corrosive acid catalysts. Cross ketonization is a promising route of converting furans and fatty acids to oleo-furansulfonates, precursors for renewable, performance-enhanced LAS replacements. Here, we explore various alkaline earth metals and mixed metal oxides for the cross-ketonization reaction and find that MgO achieves ~90% yield by minimizing the decarboxylation side reaction. Here, we illustrate the role of molecular structure on the cross-ketonization reaction and the role of complex formation over alkaline-earth metal oxides in minimizing side reactions. We overcome catalyst deactivation by regeneration over multiple runs. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of heterogeneous catalysts for cross ketonization toward developing renewable surfactants.
Lignin monomer conversion into biolubricant base oils
Despite progress in the depolymerization of lignin, only a few studies convert the obtained monomers to value-added products. Here we introduce a strategy to synthesize branched benzene lubricant (BBL) and branched cyclic lubricant (BCL) base oils from lignin-derived monomers and aldehyde. We perform carbon–carbon coupling via Brønsted acid-catalyzed hydroxyalkylation/alkylation (HAA) then hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Optimum HAA reaction conditions achieve up to 90% guaiacol conversion and an HAA product containing 76% BBL and 24% enal condensation product over a P-SiO 2 catalyst. Subsequent HDO of HAA products over an Ir-ReO x /SiO 2 catalyst produces a lubricant-ranged mixture of BCL (C 24 ) up to yield (82%) and small fractions of dodecyl cyclohexane and C 10 and C 15 carbons alkanes. The kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, and Noack volatility of these base oils are comparable to commercial petroleum-derived poly α-olefin Group IV and refrigerant base oils. In conclusion, this approach provides a sustainable pathway for replacing petroleum-derived base oils.