Experimental studies on sodium methoxide supported bentonite catalyst for biodiesel preparation from waste sunflower oil

Abstract

AbstractClays are abundantly available support material used for the preparation of green heterogeneous catalysts to produce biodiesel. In the present study, bentonite clay supported on sodium methoxide catalyst was prepared by impregnation process. The catalyst characterization was done by powder X‐ray diffraction, brunauer–emmett–teller analysis, thermo‐gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and Hammett indicator techniques. The study for determination of optimal parameters in biodiesel production was carried out using response surface methodology. A biodiesel yield of 94.33% was achieved with 2 wt% catalyst amount, 12:1 M ratio of methanol to oil, 70 min reaction time at 55°C. It was observed that the prepared catalyst has good catalytic activity. An additional significance of the synthesized catalyst was that it could be easily recovered and used in consecutive cycles without any substantial loss of catalytic activity. The physical and chemical fuel properties were determined and met the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard.