CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF POLYPROPYLENE THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF SULPHONIC GROUPS FOR APPLICATION AS CATALYST IN ESTERIFICATION REACTIONS.

In this work, the chemical modification of pristine polypropylene was carried out through sulfonation reactions with concentrated sulfuric acid (PPS1) and fuming sulfuric acid (PPS2), for production of heterogeneous catalysts used in esterification reactions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, degree of substitution and ion exchange capacity showed that both sulfonation agents were effective to promote the functionalization of polypropylene, with the fuming sulfuric acid capable of promoting a greater chemical modification. The materials catalytic activity in esterification reaction of oleic acid with methanol was evaluated at 100 ºC, methanol: oleic acid molar ratio of 78:1 and with 5 wt% of catalyst (referred to oleic acid weight). It was observed that reaction catalyzed by PPS1 converted 68.02% of oleic acid to methyl oleate in 3 hours of reaction, while PPS2 reached 86.47% conversion in five hours, showing even greater catalytic efficiency than the commercial ion exchange resin, Amberlyst 15. Therefore, the conditions employed for the sulfonation of polypropylene were satisfactory to produce materials with acid characteristics necessary to catalyze the esterification reaction of oleic acid with methanol.