Title:
Activity of Heterogeneous Catalyst for Biodiesel Production
Author(s):
Azcan, N., Misiroǧlu, P.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Production of biodiesel is greatly increasing due to its environmental benefits. However, production costs are still rather high, compared to petroleum-based diesel fuel. The introduction of a solid heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production could reduce its price, becoming competitive with diesel also from a financial point of view. Unlike homogeneous, heterogeneous catalysts are environmentally benign and could be operating in continuous processes. Moreover they can be reused and regenerated. However a high molar ratio of alcohol to oil, large amount of catalyst and high temperature and pressure are required when utilizing heterogeneous catalyst to produce biodiesel. The catalyst efficiency depended on several factors such as specific surface area, pore size, pore volume and active site concentration. In this study, heterogeneous solid base catalyst, supported metal oxides, (KOH/Al2O3) was synthesized by wet-impregnation method and catalytic activity of solid base catalyst was investigated for biodiesel production. Different amount of KOH (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 wt.%) were loaded on alumina than calcinated at 500 oC for 3 h. Properties of catalyst were determined by XRD. Then catalyst was used in transesterification reaction of soybean oil in order to find out its activity. The highest biodiesel conversion was found as 98.83 % when 30 wt.% of KOH/Al2O3 was used. Transesterification reactions of soybean oil were carried out applying conventional and microwave heating system for 3 hours and 35 minutes, respectively using 1:12 oil:methanol molar ratio and 3% catalyst.
Keywords:
biodiesel, transesterification, catalyst
Topic:
R&D on Processes for Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Fuels from Biomass
Subtopic:
Oil-based biofuels
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
3DV.4.34
Pages:
1776 - 1777
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-3DV.4.34
Price:
FREE
