Introduction Nowadays, chemists seek to obtain safe catalysts and low-cost processes with the optimum efficiency, so they focus on designing and using catalysts with lower risks and costs [1-3]. Heterogeneous catalysts are particularly important due to their ease of separation, ease of operation, high activity, high recyclability, safety, and good efficiency [4]. Among these, Phosphorus acids with ease of separation, ease of use, dramatic increase in chemical reactions, safety, and adherence to the principles of green chemistry in various chemical reactions have recently found many uses. Other properties of phosphorus acids that have attracted a lot of attention include their use as reagents, absorbents, catalysts for the preparation of food additives, as a precursor for the synthesis of phosphate fertilizers and also as catalysts that conform to the principles of green chemistry [5]. Phosphorus compounds play an important role biologically [6], and they are used as drugs such as antisense and antigen [7]. Fossil fuels are becoming obsolete due to the environmental pollution that they create and have been replaced by clean energy sources [8]. Phosphorus acids are one of the...

“ Green chemistry” is an important term in modern day chemical research is the chemistry which deals with the production of desired product by minimizing the application and production of hazardous substances. Catalysis is a paramount important component of green chemistry; therefore, it has become an important challenge for the chemists throughout the world to design and use of environmentally benign catalysts. Catalysis is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst, which is not consumed in the catalyzed reaction and can continue to act repeatedly. Because of this, only very small amounts of catalyst are required to alter the reaction rate in principle. In general, chemical reactions occur faster in the presence of a catalyst because the catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy than the non-catalyzed reaction mechanism. Catalysts are classified as homogeneous or heterogeneous [1]...

Vahid Khakyzadeh was born in Hamedan, Iran. He received his B.S. degree (Pure Chemistry) and M.S. degree (Organic Chemistry) from Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran, at 2008, 2010 respectively under supervision of professor Mohammad Ali Zolfigol. He is currently working on his Ph. D. under the supervision of professor Mohammad Ali Zolfigol in organic chemistry. Among his recent awards, Vahid was awarded the outstanding MSc student (2009), the outstanding PhD student (2011) and distinguished PhD student at Bu-Ali Sina University (2012). He has also participated in over 27 research articles and 1 book. His research interests are green chemistry and catalysis, including the application of homogeneous, heterogeneous catalysis in organic synthesis.

Sulphuric acid adsorbed on silica gel is a practical and useful catalyst for acetylation of various alcohols, phenols and amines.

In situ epoxidation reaction of soybean oil from the raw materials of acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide was performed for the first time in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, namely silica sulfuric acid within the temperature of 30-75oC. By altering the molar ratios of soybean oil, acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide and also the reaction temperature and percent of catalyst, the optimum condition of the epoxidation reaction for obtaining the highest value of epoxy percent in epoxidized soybean oil was achieved. The maximum oxirane value obtained in he product was 6% which was achieved at the optimum condition of the reaction, involving the molar ratio of soybean oil, acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide of 1: 0.5: 1.1 respectively, at the temperature of 60oC and in the presence of 5% catalyst. Moreover, in comparison with the other acid liquid catalysts usually used for epoxidation reactions, silica sulfuric acid have several advantages including ease of usage, being inexpensive, having high chemical activity and safety and being environmentally friendly.