Sol–gel La2O3–ZrO2 mixed oxide catalysts for biodiesel production

Abstract

Different La2O3 contents (0, 1, 2, 3, and 5 wt%) were used to prepared La2O3–ZrO2 mixed oxides calcined at 600 °C by the sol–gel method. The catalytic activity was measured as biodiesel production from canola oil through a transesterification reaction. The characterization results indicate that the La2O3 monolayer formation and extent of basicity of m-ZrO2 have a large influence on biodiesel production. Greater biodiesel conversion (56% at 4 h) was obtained with the 3% La2O3–ZrO2 catalyst in the presence of basic sites and the formation of a monolayer of La2O3. The decrease in the catalytic activity for 5% La2O3–ZrO2 resulted from the loss of active sites on the catalyst because of agglomeration, which was suggested by XPS and the isoelectric point. The kinetic data fit to a pseudo-first order constant, and the largest kinetic constant corresponds to 3% La2O3–ZrO2, currently the largest heterogeneous non-alkaline metal catalyst reported for a transesterification reaction.