Characterization and Application of Catalysts Hard Green Clay and MoO<sub>3</sub>/ Hard Green Clay in Transesterification Reaction of Soybean Oil

Abstract

The present study describes the preparation of catalyst MoO3 supported on smectite clay by the solution impregnation method and its evaluation as a heterogeneous catalyst in the production of biodiesel from soybean oil. The individual effects of catalyst (hard green clay and MoO3/hard green clay) on kinematic viscosity of produced biodiesel and conversion were investigated. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption. Conditions of soybean oil transesterification were: 5% catalyst by weight, 1:12 oil to methanol molar ratio, at 200 oC for 60 minutes. Patterns of X-ray diffraction showed the characteristic peaks of the structure of smectite. The results of X-ray diffraction suggests that MoO3 species exist as highly dispersed surface species. Molybdenum metal identified as effective catalysts for the transesterification reaction of soybean oil with methanol. A preliminary design assessment show that this catalysts (MoO3/HGC) is sufficiently active achieving conversion in excess of 62,07% at temperature below 200 oC.