Different types of acidic heterogeneous catalysts, including sulfonic resins, zeolites and grafted silicas are used for the synthesis of mono-ethers of glycerol using ethanol as the alcohol. The study shows that the performances of the catalysts are governed by both the acidity and the polarity of their surface. Materials with strong hydrophobic character are not active as they do not allow the adsorption of the glycerol. On the other hand a strong ...
[Walker, Louise F.; Bourghida, Ahmed; Connolly, Stephen; Wills, Martin Journal of the Chemical Society. Perkin Transactions 1, 2002 , # 7 p. 965 - 981]