Tin oxide doped on activated dolomites as efficient catalyst for biodiesel production

Activated dolomite (AD), was investigated as a promising heterogeneous catalyst for the production of biodiesel. SnO2 doped on activated dolomites catalyst (DSN) was synthesized through wet impregnation method and calcined at 500 C for 3 h in air. The catalyst was then applied on biodiesel production via transesterification of palm cooking oil with methanol for required conditions (various time, oil to methanol ratio and amount of catalyst). X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray Fluoresence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Temperature Program Desorption (TPD) analysis were used to characterize the properties of the catalysts. Results showed that conversion of biodiesel by using DSN was higher (99.9%) with lower optimum conditions i.e. 1:15 methanol to oil molar ratio, 1 wt. % of catalyst amount and reaction time of 6 h at 65 C compared to AD (98.34%) under higher conditions

Production of biodiesel from palm oil using modified Malaysian natural dolomites

Calcined dolomite (AD), produced by calcination of Malaysian dolomite (UD) promotes a potential natural catalyst for biodiesel production from palm oil with the conversion of 99.98%. The catalysts were characterized by using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) surface area, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) of CO2. All catalysts were then employed for transesterification reaction under different conditions (time, methanol to oil molar ratio and amount of catalyst). SnO2 doped on activated dolomite (SD) shows an optimum conversion (99.98%) at conditions, i.e. 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio in 4 h compared to ZnO doped on activated dolomite (ZD) and AD. The catalytic activities of these catalysts were found to be depending on the basicity as well as the surface area of the catalyst used

Production of biodiesel from non-edible Jatropha curcas oil via transesterification using Bi2O3-La2O3 catalyst

The simultaneous esterification and transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) was carried out in the presence of Bi2O3 (1–7 wt.%) modified La2O3 catalyst at atmospheric pressure. The catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, desorption of CO2 (TPD-CO2) and NH3 (TPD-NH3). Under the optimal reaction condition of methanol/oil molar ratio of 15:1, 2 wt.% of catalyst amount and a reaction temperature of 150 °C for 4 h, the highest conversion of biodiesel obtained was 93%. This catalyst maintained 87% of FAME conversion after three times of successive reuse

Heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable biodiesel production via esterification and transesterification

Concern over the economics of accessing fossil fuel reserves, and widespread acceptance of the anthropogenic origin of rising CO2 emissions and associated climate change from combusting such carbon sources, is driving academic and commercial research into new routes to sustainable fuels to meet the demands of a rapidly rising global population. Here we discuss catalytic esterification and transesterification solutions to the clean synthesis of biodiesel, the most readily implemented and low cost, alternative source of transportation fuels to meet future societal demands

Modification of dolomites using tin and zinc as efficient solid catalysts for methyl esters production

Rapid energy consumption nowadays has led to the development of renewable resources of energy such as biodiesel. However, high cost of biodiesel production retards further development of this industry. Dolomite is a naturally occurring source of CaO and MgO which promotes a high potential heterogeneous base catalyst for biodiesel production. Transesterification of palm oil via calcined dolomite (AD8) catalyst exhibited 98.3 % conversion of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). Selective metal oxides, Sn and Zn were as dopants since they have amphoteric properties which can improve the basicity of the parent material (dolomite). In order to obtain modified dolomite catalyst, 1, 3 and 5 % of metal oxides (Sn and Zn) were doped separately on the AD8 via wet impregnation method and exposed for calcination in air at 773 K for 3 h. These catalysts were denoted as 1DSN, 3DSN and 5DSN for Sn-dopant, whereas 1DZN, 3DZN and 5DZN for Zndopant. The catalysts were characterized by using X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) of CO2. The catalysts were then employed for transesterification reaction under different conditions (time of reaction, methanol to oil molar ratio and amount of catalyst) to investigate the catalytic activities of the catalysts. From the result, calcined dolomite (AD8) which has been doped with 3 % of SnO2 (3DSN) showed optimum conversion of 99.98 % at the least conditions i.e. 1 wt.% of catalyst amount, in 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio reacted in 4 h compared to 3DZN and AD8. The catalytic activities of these catalysts were found depending on the basicity and the surface area of the catalyst used. Several tests were conducted to study the physicochemical properties such as pour point, flash point, kinematic viscosity, sulphur content and cloud point of biodiesel produced. Based on the results, the synthesized biodiesel is comparable with conventional diesel in the market since it meets the international standards of biodiesel (ASTM, EN) and MS for diesel fuel specifications as well

Production of green biofuel by using a goat manure supported Ni–Al hydrotalcite catalysed deoxygenation process

The high oxygen content in natural biomass resources, such as vegetable oil or biomass-pyrolysed bio oil, is the main constraint in their implementation as a full-scale biofuel for the automotive industry. In the present study, renewable fuel with petrodiesel-like properties was produced via catalytic deoxygenation of oleic acid in the absence of hydrogen (H 2 ). The deoxygenation pathway of oleic acid to bio-hydrocarbon involves decarboxylation/decarbonylation of the oxygen content from the fatty acid structure in the form of carbon dioxide (CO 2 )/carbon monoxide (CO), with the presence of a goat manure supported Ni-Al hydrotalcite (Gm/Ni-Al) catalyst. Goat manure is an abundant bio-waste, containing a high mineral content, urea as well as cellulosic fiber of plants, which is potentially converted into activated carbon. Synthesis of Gm/Ni-Al was carried out by incorporation of pre-activated goat manure (GmA) during co-precipitation of Ni-Al catalyst with 1 : 3, 1 : 1 and 3 : 1 ratios. The physico-chemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, field emission surface electron microscopy (FESEM) and temperature program desorption ammonia (TPD-NH 3 ) analysers. The catalytic deoxygenation reaction was performed in a batch reactor and the product obtained was characterized by using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GCMS) for compound composition identification as well as gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) for yield and selectivity determination. The optimization and evaluation were executed using response surface methodology (RSM) in conjunction with central composite design (CCD) with 5-level-3-factors. From the RSM reaction model, it was found that the Gm/Ni-Al 1 : 1 catalysed deoxygenation reaction gives the optimum product yield of 97.9% of hydrocarbon in the range of C 8 -C 20 , with diesel selectivity (C 17 : heptadecane and heptadecene compounds) of 63.7% at the optimal reaction conditions of: (1) reaction temperature: 327.14 °C, (2) reaction time: 1 h, and (3) catalyst amount: 5 wt%