Abstract
Uses of nanocatalysts have become more useful in optimizing catalytic reactions. They are known to enhance the rate of reaction by offering a greater number of active sites by possessing a high surface-to-volume ratio. In the present work, calcium oxide nanocatalysts were synthesized through the sol–gel method. The particle size of the nanocatalyst prepared ranged up to 8 nm. Soybean oil was used as the raw material for the synthesis of biodiesel. The synthesized nano-CaO was characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller). Average BET surface area analysis of the nanocatalyst was calculated to be 67.781 m2/g and pore diameter was 3.302 nm. Nano-CaO catalyst was used to synthesize biodiesel and optimize the reaction variables through optimization processes to achieve a high yield of biodiesel. The reaction variables that were optimized were catalyst amount, oil to methanol molar ratio and reaction temperature. Upon optimization, the conversion of biodiesel was found to be 97.61%. The optimized value of the reaction variables was: catalyst amount of 3.675 wt% with respect to oil, molar ratio (alcohol to oil) of 11:1, and reaction temperature of 60 °C for 2 h.Graphic abstract
Highlights
Renewable energy has attracted the interest of researchers worldwide owing to diminishing fossil fuel reserves and environmental concerns [1]
Calcium oxide-based heterogeneous catalysts have been commonly used in the synthesis processes for biodiesel production because of their high catalytic activity, low cost, non-toxicity, and easy availability [4,5,6]
The catalyst was reused for four times under the reaction conditions of methanol to oil molar ratio, 6:1; catalyst concentration, 0.642 mol/L; reaction temperature, 50 °C; and reaction time, 1.5 h, which gave a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) conversion of 97.7% in 5 h at the second cycle [8]
Summary
Renewable energy has attracted the interest of researchers worldwide owing to diminishing fossil fuel reserves and environmental concerns [1]. Calcium oxide-based heterogeneous catalysts have been commonly used in the synthesis processes for biodiesel production because of their high catalytic activity, low cost, non-toxicity, and easy availability [4,5,6]. A high fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield of 95% has been reported at 5 wt% of catalyst loading, methanol to oil molar ratio of 12:1 for 5 h at room temperature (30 ± 2 °C) [7]. Optimum reaction conditions of methanol to oil molar ratio 7.1:1, catalyst concentration of 0.74 mol/L, and reaction temperature of 52 °C were reported to yield a high FAME conversion of 99.8%. The catalyst was reused for four times under the reaction conditions of methanol to oil molar ratio, 6:1; catalyst concentration, 0.642 mol/L; reaction temperature, 50 °C; and reaction time, 1.5 h, which gave a FAME conversion of 97.7% in 5 h at the second cycle [8]
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