Role of Catalysts and Their Mechanisms in Biodiesel Synthesis with Reference to Nanomaterials

Abstract

Biodiesel production has been lauded as one of the best alternatives to petroleum diesel. However, it still encounters several challenges related to the technical, economical and sustainability issues which hinder its further development. Catalytic conversion technology is one of the popular biodiesel synthesis methods due to its lower process severity and higher kinetic rate. The introduction of nanomaterials as either the main heterogeneous catalyst or support in esterification and transesterification reactions could help to revolutionize the biodiesel synthesis pathway. Nanomaterials have been known to exhibit several desirable characteristics, which include large surface area, large pore volume, tuneable surface properties and higher thermal stability. These can help to improve the conversion efficiency while at the same time they are robust enough to cater to low-quality feedstocks with a high impurities content. Therefore, this chapter is aimed at elucidating the role and potential of nanomaterials as the new state-of-the-art catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. Its catalyst synthesis pathways and mechanism in the conversion reaction are also discussed to provide a better understanding of their fundamental relationship towards optimum biodiesel production. This information will be vital to path the way forward for more detailed and in-depth studies pertaining to the application of nanomaterials as catalysts in biodiesel synthesis in the future.