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Catalytic Activity of KOH–CaO–Al2O3 Nanocomposites in Biodiesel Production: Impact of Preparation Method

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Abstract

CaO–Al2O3 mixed oxides were prepared by different preparation methods–such as sol–gel, co-precipitation, impregnation, and MW-assisted solution combustion synthesis (M-SCS)–and then impregnated with KOH to examine their activity in transesterification of canola oil to biodiesel. Synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, FTIR, BET/BJH, and SEM/EDX. The mixed oxides, except those prepared by M-SCS method, exhibited a nearly amorphous structure with some diffraction peaks of calcium oxide. Due to high combustion temperature during the M-SCS process, Ca ions could diffuse into the alumina lattice to form CaAl2O4. But upon impregnation with KOH, the former transformed to Ca12Al14O33. The KOH/Ca12Al14O33 nanocatalyst prepared by M-SCS method exhibited better basicity, mean pore size, and activity, as well as highest Ca/Al and K/Al ratios. In the presence of this catalyst, around 86% of canola oil were converted to biodiesel in the transesterification reaction carried out at 65°C, methanol/oil molar ratio 12: 1, 4 wt% catalyst, 4 h. Such parameters seem appropriate for industrial application. The M-SCS method is technically simple, cost effective, time/energy saving and requires no further thermal treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, P.O. Box 9177948974, Iran

    H. Nayebzadeh & N. Saghatoleslami

  2. Chemical Engineering Faculty, Sahand University of Technology, Sahand New Town, Tabriz, P.O. Box 51335-1996, Iran

    M. Haghighi

  3. Reactor and Catalysis Research Center (RCRC), Sahand University of Technology, Sahand New Town, Tabriz, P. O. Box 51335-1996, Iran

    M. Haghighi

  4. Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, P.O. Box 9177948974, Iran

    M. Tabasizadeh

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  1. H. Nayebzadeh
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  3. M. Haghighi
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Nayebzadeh, H., Saghatoleslami, N., Haghighi, M. et al. Catalytic Activity of KOH–CaO–Al2O3 Nanocomposites in Biodiesel Production: Impact of Preparation Method. Int. J Self-Propag. High-Temp. Synth. 28, 18–27 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1061386219010102

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