Tanawat Tittabutr. Hydrotalcite base catalysts for biodiesel production . Master's Degree(Petrochemistry and Polymer Science). Chulalongkorn University. Center of Academic Resources. : Chulalongkorn University, 2006.
Hydrotalcite base catalysts for biodiesel production
Abstract:
In this work, solid base catalysts were synthesized. They were MgAI and MgGa hydrotalcites, calcined hydrotalcites, metal loaded calcined hydrotalcites and rehydrated hydrotalcites. Different group I metals were loaded in different weight percentage. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by XRD, IR, BET, SEM and basicity was measured. To compare their catalytic activities, tributyrin was used as a model compound for transesterification with methanol at a fixed reaction condition: catalyst 1.5wt%, termperature 60 degree celsius, time 3 h, molar ratio of methanol to tributyrin 30:1. GC was used to analyse the product, methyl butanoate. The results showed that the rehydrated hydrotalcites gave higher %conversion of tributyrin than the calcined ones. When the metal was loaded on the calcined hydrotalcites, %conversion of tributyrin was increased. The calcined MgAI hydrotalcite which was loaded with 1.5%K was chosen to catalyze the transesterification of refined palm oil with methanol. The reaction condition was optimized and was found at a temperature of 100 degree celsius, the molar ratio of methanol to oil of 45:1, reaction time 9 h, catalyst 7.5wt%, High product yield (85.6%) and ester content (93.7%) were obtained. These catalysts can be regenerated (by calcinations and reloading metal) with slight decrease in activity.