Abstract
In the present work, biodiesel production from the transesterification of the cottonseed oil with ethanol over a novel CaO–MgO/Al2O3 catalyst has been studied, and the effects of experimental factors such as loading of CaO–MgO on Al2O3, reaction temperature and molar ratio of ethanol to cottonseed oil on the oil conversion were investigated. CaO–MgO/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared via a conventional co-precipitation method. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and temperature-programmed desorption of CO2 (TPD-CO2). The operational conditions on the cottonseed oil conversion were investigated using Design of Experiment (DOE). The optimized conditions predicted by Box–Behnken design were found to be 14.4wt% loading of CaO–MgO on Al2O3, with molar ratio of ethanol to cottonseed oil=12.24 and reaction temperature=95.63°C in order to achieve a conversion of 97.62%. The predicted results agree with the experimental results (12.5wt% loading of CaO–MgO on Al2O3, molar ratio of ethanol to cottonseed oil=8.5 and reaction temperature of 95°C with 92.45% conversion).
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
