Sustaible conversion of fatty esters and natural oils to high value fatty alcohols under homogeous catalytic conditions

Supervisors: Prof .Walter Baratta

Project description:
This project aims to the development of a new series of catalysts able to convert fatty esters and natural oils into high value fatty alcohols under homogeneous catalytic conditions. Rapeseed, soybean, olive oil, and used cooking oils, as well as biodiesel, are suitable renewable sources for the production of fatty alcohols (3 million ton / year) which find applications in various products, including biodegradable detergents, personal care items, cosmetics, food products, lubricants, and pheromones for crop protection.
Presently, triglycerides are converted into the corresponding methyl esters, followed by hydrogenation at high pressure and temperature, utilizing heterogeneous catalysts like copper chromates. This project is centered on the development, preparation, and characterization of novel homogeneous and highly efficient ruthenium catalysts for the hydrogenation of fatty esters and natural oil into to high value fatty alcohols under mild reaction conditions reducing the reliance on fossil products, the environmental impact and with lower energy consumption. For this purpose the proposal is focused specifically on the design of novel ruthenium complexes containing PNN, PNS and SNS type ligands with the NH functionality in order to achieve high productivity and efficiency.

Biography and contacts:
Sara Roudani was born in Afourer (Morocco) in 1993.
In 2019 she obtained a MSc degree in chemistry on bioactive molecules at the University of Moulay abdellah Fes (Morocco) and in 2020 she started a PhD program in organic Chemistry at the University Sultan Moulay Slimane (Morocco).
In January 2024 she started a PhD program in “Food Science” at the University of Udine.

Email: roudani.sara@spes.uniud.it