Calcined sodium silicate as an efficient and benign heterogeneous catalyst for the transesterification of natural lecithin to L-α-glycerophosphocholine

Calcined sodium silicate could serve as an efficient and benign heterogeneous catalyst for the production of L-α-glycerophosphocholine from natural lecithin. The catalytic transesterification of natural lecithin by calcined sodium silicate proceeded to almost 100% conversion under the following conditions: sodium silicate amount of 6 wt%, reaction temperature of 65°C, lecithin concentration of 10.5 mmol/l, stirring intensity of 300 rpm, reaction time of 120 min. In addition, this catalyst could be separated completely by simple centrifugation and retained high activity after three re-uses. Compared to the previously reported catalysts, calcined sodium silicate, with the significantly important characteristics of non-toxicity and easy excretion from the human body, was beneficial to the benign production of L-α-glycerophosphocholine and its security as well as application in food and medicine fields.