Abstract
This research aims at developing an efficient and reusable catalyst to improve biodiesel production processes. To achieve this, a vanadium-substituted polyoxometalate (POM) acid, namely H6PV3MoW8O40, was firstly prepared, and then the heterogenzation of the homogeneous Keggin-type heteropoly acids was performed by the partial proton substitution by monovalent large cesium cations with the formation of solid Cs2H4PV3MoW8O40 catalysts. Several techniques, such as X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared, coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry, Diffuse reflectance ultraviolet–visible spectrum, thermal gravimetric analysis and N2 adsorption–desorption techniques, were employed to characterize the as-prepared solid catalyst. The solid acid catalyst had the capacity to catalyze both the transesterification of soybean oil and esterification of free fatty acids (FFAs) simultaneously, providing an efficient production process for the production of biodiesel from low-quality oils. Under the operational conditions of a methanol/oil molar ratio of 30:1, a catalyst dosage of 5 wt.%, a reaction temperature of 140 °C, and a reaction duration of 8 h, an oil conversion of 92.2% was attained with the total FFA transformation to biodiesel. Furthermore, the catalyst could be reutilized for several cycles with no significant drop in its activity, thus having great potential for application with a bright perspective in the production of biodiesel, especially from low-quality oil feedstocks.
Highlights
In recent decades, the exploration of alternative sustainable fuels has become a significant research hotspot due to the depletion of fossil fuel reserves and aggravated environmental pollution [1].Biodiesel, generally derived by the catalytic transesterification of plant oils or non-edible oils with methanol, appeared as a state-of-the-art sustainable biofuel to replace traditional petroleum-based fuels thanks to its renewability, local availability as well as its significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when it is combusted [2]
The catalyst could be reutilized for several cycles with no significant drop in its activity, having great potential for application with a bright perspective in the production of biodiesel, especially from low-quality oil feedstocks
The oil feedstocks for biodiesel make up approximately 75% of the total estimated cost of biodiesel production [5]
Summary
Generally derived by the catalytic transesterification of plant oils or non-edible oils with methanol, appeared as a state-of-the-art sustainable biofuel to replace traditional petroleum-based fuels thanks to its renewability, local availability as well as its significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when it is combusted [2]. For the alkali-catalyzed transesterification reaction, the sensitivity of alkaline catalysts to moisture and free fatty acids (FFAs) in the oil feedstocks remains problematic, and the oil feedstocks with the FFA content less than 0.5% and anhydrous methanol are generally necessitated [3,4]. The common feedstocks, refined vegetable oils, are not entirely competitive, because of their limited supply and higher cost, thereby causing a major hurdle to the biodiesel
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