Characterisation and performance of three promising heterogeneous catalysts in transesterification of palm oil
-
Wan Isahak
,
Manal Ismail
Abstract
In this work, the performance of three heterogeneous catalysts, namely potassium hydroxide/γ-alumina, bulk calcium oxide, and nano-calcium oxide, in comparison with the homogeneous potassium hydroxide was studied in the transesterification of palm oil to produce methyl esters and glycerol. The physical and chemical properties of the heterogeneous catalysts were thoroughly characterised and determined using a number of analytical methods to assess their catalytic activities prior to transesterification. The reaction products were analysed using liquid chromatography and their properties were quantified based on the American Society of Testing and Materials and United State Pharmacopoeia standard methods. At the 65°C reaction temperature, the oil-to-methanol mole ratio of 1: 15, 2.5 h of the reaction time, and catalyst (φ r = 1: 40), potassium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide/γ-alumina, nano-calcium oxide, and bulk calcium oxide gave methyl ester yields of 97 %, 96 %, 94 %, and 90 %, respectively. The impregnation of γ-alumina with potassium hydroxide displayed a catalytic performance comparable with the performance of potassium hydroxide where the former could be physically separated via filtration resulting in a relatively greater purity of products. Other advantages included the longer reusability of the catalyst and more active sites with lower by-product formation.
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© 2011 Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences
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Articles in the same Issue
- Determination of impurities for controllable growth of high quality optical fluorite
- Microbial and enzymatic hydrolysis of tannic acid: influence of substrate chemical quality
- Characterisation and performance of three promising heterogeneous catalysts in transesterification of palm oil
- Synthesis of rare earth ternary complexes using tryptophan and sodium citrate and their anticoagulant action
- A new bis(azine) tetradentate ligand and its transition metal complexes: Synthesis, characterisation, and extraction properties
- Bicontinuous nanodisc and nanospherical titania materials prepared by sol-gel process in reverse microemulsion
- Oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol in the presence of V-polyoxometalate
- A new convenient synthesis of 5-aryl-2-(arylamino)-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives
- From a Tb3+ chelated compound to a hybrid material: selective emission responses to anions
- Doping level of Mn in high temperature grown Zn1−x MnxO studied through electronic charge distribution, magnetization, and local structure
- Thermal analysis of (NaF/AlF3)-FeF3 and (NaF/AlF3)-FeO systems
