Nanorice-shaped mesoporous V/RSM as an efficient and reusable catalyst for biodiesel production from soybean oil

Abstract

Sol–gel method was used to synthesize a nanorice-shaped mesoporous V/RSM, which was characterized by FTIR, XRD, BET, UV–Vis and TEM. The mesostructure of silica remains intact after following vanadium modification, as shown by absorption–desorption analysis, while spectral techniques indicate the successful immobilization of the neat vanadium oxide inside the porous silica support. Furthermore, soybean oil was has been used as the feedstock in the preparation of biodiesel by V/RSM-catalyzed transesterification process. Various reaction parameters, including methanol/oil molar ratio, reaction time, catalyst mass and reaction temperature, were studied investigated with regard to their effect on the reaction. A remarkable conversion of 94 % was obtained achieved using a 8 % (wt/wt oil) of V(4.8)/RSM catalyst, methanol/oil molar ratio of 12:1 and reflux temperature of methanol during 8 h. The solid catalyst can be reused over at least six cycles under mild conditions.