Transesterification of palm oil using base loaded ERB-1 catalysts for biodiesel production

Abstract

ERB-1 was hydrothermally synthesized by rotating crystallization and using piperidine (PD) as a structure directing agent with the gel composition 1.50 SiO2 : B2O3 : 0.60 NaOH : 1.80 PD : 28.50 H2O. The gel was crystallized at 175oC for 7 days and removed template from as-synthesized sample by calcination in a muffle furnace at 550°C. The del-ERB-1 was prepared by swelling and exfoliating the ERB-1 precursor. The del-ERB-1 consists of thin sheet with an extremely high external surface area. NaERB-1 and Na-del-ERB-1 catalysts could be obtained by stirring with 0.10 M NaOH solution at RT for 3 h and this condition was applied to load with other alkali ions (K, Rb and Cs). All catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission, nitrogen adsorption and scanning electron microscopy and tested catalytic activity in transesterification reaction of palm oil with methanol to produce fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel). The various reaction conditions such as catalyst amount, methanol to oil mole ratio including reaction time and temperature were studied. The product was analyzed by GC technique. In case of del-ERB-1 catalyst, it shows the triglyceride conversion slightly higher than non-delaminated one (2.28%), while conversion over Na-del-ERB-1 is lower than NaERB-1 (4.49%). Thus, the highest transesterification activity is achieved when NaERB-1(0.10, RT) was used as catalyst, the conversion and methyl esters yield can be reached to 74.03% and 42.45%, respectively. Moreover, catalytic activities of used and Na-reloaded catalysts were also investigated. The activity of Na-reloaded ERB-1 catalyst is slightly higher than used ERB-1 but lower than the fresh one.