Preparation and characterization of vernolic acid methyl ester functionalized ordered mesoporous materials

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Vernonia oil is a naturally epoxidized triglyceride oil extracted from the seed of Vernonia galamensis, a native plant in East Africa. After hydrolysis to vernolic acid (VA) and derivatization, vernolic acid methyl ester (VAME) is synthesized and used to functionalize ordered mesoporous materials (OMM). Al-MCM-41 with Si/Al ratio of 15, pure silica SBA-15 and periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) are employed as supports exploring the different surface properties. Following optimization of the VAME/OMM ratios, selected samples, i.e. those with 13% VAME, were impregnated with AgNO3 in NaBH4 to obtain Ag-nanoparticles. The final AgVAME-OMM potential catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, observing an efficient loading of Ag nanoparticles in pure silica SBA-15 with VAME with 500 m2 specific surface area and 6 nm pore size.   KEY WORDS: Vernolic acid methyl ester, Vernonia oil, Functionalization, Ordered mesoporous materials, Catalysis   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(3), 689-702.                                                              DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i3.12