Heterogeneous catalysis is in recent focus of research for biodiesel
production from vegetable oils because of advantages such as easy separation
and reuse of catalysts, although homogeneous catalysis is most commonly used
method. The aim of this study was preparation of γ-Al2O3 support by modified
sol-gel procedure, synthesis of the KI/Al2O3 catalyst and testing its
activity in the transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol.
Influences of different process parameters on conversion of sunflower oil to
methyl esters were examined. The gained results implicate that the potassium
iodide incorporation into/onto the structure of γ-Al2O3 significantly
influences textural and structural properties of the catalyst. Additionally,
the catalyst basic strength is increased and all together those properties
are positively affecting the activity of the catalyst in the reaction of
transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol. The impregnation of
alumina with potassium iodide resulted in the additional formation of basic
catalytically active sites. The surface properties of the catalyst have an
essential impact on its catalytic performance. Under relatively mild process
conditions and relatively short reaction time, the usage of the KI/Al2O3
catalyst resulted in very high conversion to fatty acids methyl esters (i.e.
99.99 %). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172061 i br. TR
34008
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