Title:
Solid Superacidic and Superbasic Catalysts for Enhanced Biodiesel Production through Sequential Esterification and Transesterification
Author(s):
Chiang, C.L., Lin, K.S., Shu, C.W., Wu, J.C.S., Wu, K.C.W., Huang, Y.T.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Soybean oil containing free fatty acids (FFA, palmitic acid, 5.0 wt%) was converted to biodiesel by a two-step process in a catalytic fixed-bed batch reactor using three different catalysts. The solid superacidic SO42-/ZrO2/Al2O3 catalyst was prepared with 0.1-1.5 M H2SO4 and calcined at 300-700 .C. In addition, two solid superbasic catalysts, KF/CaO–Fe3O4 and Na/NaOH/Al2O3, were synthesized with 5-25 wt% KF loading and 10-25 wt% NaOH, respectively, then calcined at 200-700 .C. The efficiency of FFA removal by SO42-/ZrO2/Al2O3 in a 3 h reaction was much higher than Amberlyst IR 120 (80.0% compared to 30.0%), but lower than Amberlyst 15 (98.0%). As for biodiesel yield, optimal values of 83.0% and 100.0% were obtained using KF/CaO–Fe3O4 and Na/NaOH/Al2O3, respectively. The transesterification mechanisms of soybean oil with FFA into biodiesel using solid superacid and superbasic catalysts were also proposed. We demonstrated the removal and conversion of FFA in soybean oil by first esterifying the oil over the SO42-/ZrO2/Al2O3 surface. The soybean oil was then converted into biodiesel via transesterification occurring at the surfaces of KF/CaO–Fe3O4 and Na/NaOH/Al2O3.
Keywords:
biodiesel, catalysis, transesterification, resource recovery, solid superacidic/superbasic catalyst
Topic:
Biomass Conversion Technologies for Liquid and Gaseous Fuels, Chemicals and Materials
Subtopic:
Production and application of biobased chemicals
Event:
25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
3BV.4.21
Pages:
1307 - 1317
ISBN:
978-88-89407-17-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/25thEUBCE2017-3BV.4.21
Price:
FREE
