Oyster andPyramidellaShells as Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Microwave-Assisted Biodiesel Production fromJatropha curcasOil

Achanai Buasri,Chosita Wechayan,Vorrada Loryuenyong,Chalida Boonrin,Tidarat Rattanapan

doi:10.1155/2015/578625

Achanai Buasri, Chosita Wechayan + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/578625

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Abstract

Microwave-assisted biodiesel production via transesterification ofJatropha curcasoil with methanol using solid oxide catalyst derived from waste shells of oyster andPyramidellawas studied. The shells were calcined at 900°C for 2 h and calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst characterizations were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurements. The effects of reaction variables such as reaction time, microwave power, methanol/oil molar ratio, and catalyst loading on the yield of biodiesel were investigated. Reusability of waste shell catalyst was also examined. The results indicated that the economic and environmentally friendly catalysts derived from oyster andPyramidellashells showed good reusability and had high potential to be used as biodiesel production catalysts under microwave-assisted transesterification ofJatropha curcasoil with methanol.

Highlights

Many recent research programs based on energy sector are focused on the development of concepts such as renewable resources, sustainable development, green energy, and ecofriendly process [1]
The waste shells maintained their X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of CaCO3, while materials calcined at 900∘C for 2 h exhibited those of calcium oxide (CaO), indicating that the complete conversion of CaCO3 to CaO by evolving the carbon dioxide (CO2) required the calcination above 800∘C [13]
The result reveals sharp XRD reflections with (1 1 1), (2 0 0), (2 2 0), (3 1 1), and (2 2 2) orientations, implying that the calcined material was well crystallized during the heat treatment process [4]

Summary

Introduction

Many recent research programs based on energy sector are focused on the development of concepts such as renewable resources, sustainable development, green energy, and ecofriendly process [1]. A renewable, biodegradable, nontoxic, carbon neutral, and environmentally benign fuel for diesel engines, has been attracting considerable interest all over the world which can significantly reduce global warming and the dependence on conventional fossil fuels [2]. It can be synthesized through transesterification of oil or esterification of fats using basic, acidic, enzymatic, or other kinds of catalysts with heating functions [3, 4]. Heterogeneous catalysts are very important for biodiesel synthesis as these catalysts have many advantages over homogeneous catalysts [6]

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