Upgrading Biodiesel from Vegetable Oils by Hydrogen Transfer to Its Fatty Esters

Conversion of vegetable-derived triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) is a popular approach to the generation of biodiesel fuels and the basis of a growing industry. Drawbacks of the strategy are that (a) the glycerol backbone of the triglyceride is discarded as waste, and (2) most available natural triglycerides in the U.S. are multiunsaturated or fully saturated, giving inferior fuel performance and causing engine problems. Here we show that catalysis by iridium complex 1 can address both of these problems through selective reduction of triglycerides high in polyunsaturation. This is realized using hydrogen from methanol or those imbedded in the triglyceride backbone, concurrently generating lactate as a value-added C3 product. Additional methanol or glycerol as a hydrogen source enables reduction of corn and soybean oils to >80% oleate. The cost of the iridium catalyst is mitigated by its recovery through aqueous extraction. The process can be further driven with a supporting iron-based catalyst for the complete saturation of all olefins. Preparative procedures are established for synthesis and separation of methyl esters of the hydrogenated fatty acids, enabling instant access to upgraded biofuels.