Mingshu Li^a, Rong Zhang^a, Chuanxing Jia^b, Zhongqiu Liu^a, Yujing Liu^a, Anguo Ying^a,*, Novel photic responsive Janus nanoparticles: Interfacial catalysts for efficient preparation of biodiesel, Fuel, 2024, accept.

Abstract: Smart Janus nanoparticles have been extensively utilized as interfacial catalysts for various organic transformations. The solid basic ionic polymer catalysts were prepared by introducing basic ionic liquid (F-DABCO) and innovative photic responsive monomer (SPA) on the surface of Janus SiO₂ nanoparticles using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer. The as-prepared Pickering emulsion is employed in the transesterification reaction between soybean oil and methanol to synthesize biodiesel and achieve demulsification/emulsification switches by alternating exposure between ultraviolet and visible light. The transesterification reaction mechanism was verified by an isotope calibration test. The effect of the parameter showed that at optimum values of 62.9 ℃ in 6 h with a 1:11.2 oil-to-methanol molar ratio and catalyst amount of 5.1 wt.%, the yield of biodiesel can be arrived at 97.9%. Finally, the catalysts demonstrated the capacity for multiple reuses, indicating that functional Janus nanoparticles can be used as a good catalyst for the Pickering oil/methanol interface for efficient production of biodiesel-Introduction.

Key words: Biodiesel; Pickering emulsion; Janus nanoparticles; Light response; Poly(ionic liquid)s.