Cellulose-Fe3O4 nanocomposite based on rice husk as catalyst for synthesis of methyl ester from waste cooking oil

Abstract

Cellulose-Fe3O4 nanocomposite has been successfully synthesized by modifying Fe3O4 onto nanocellulose acetate surface derived cellulose from rice husk. It was supported by Fourier Tranform-Infrared (FT-IR) characterization, where there was absorption at 900 cm−1, which was a characteristic for cellulose absorption, and at 572 cm−1, which was the absorption of Fe-O. The morphology of cellulose-Fe3O4 nanocomposite by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) having fibers shape were the characteristic of cellulose and Fe3O4 nanoparticle attached on the surface of nanocellulose and supported by SEM mapping. The characterization of Tunneling Electron Microscopy (TEM) obtained nano Fe3O4 on the nanocellulose surface with average size around 55 nm. The cellulose-Fe3O4 nanocomposites have the capability, as catalyst for the synthesis of methyl esters from waste cooking oil with the optimal conditions at 60 °C for 120 minutes with the obtained conversion is 77.56 %. The nanocomposite of based biopolymer with nanomagnetite active side is potential for catalysts from the used cooking oil to biodiesel as renewable energy and can replace limited fossil energy.