Biodiesel production from refined sunflower oil over Ca–Mg–Al catalysts: Effect of the composition and the thermal treatment

Eliane Dahdah, Jane Estephane, Reem Haydar, Yara Youssef, Bilal El Khoury, Cedric Gennequin, Antoine Aboukaïs, Edmond Abi-Aad, Samer Aouad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Different Ca–Mg–Al catalysts were prepared by the hydrotalcite route using co-precipitation and impregnation techniques. The effect of thermal treatment was studied and the obtained mixed oxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption and CO2-temperature programmed desorption. Catalysts were then tested in the transesterification of sunflower oil. The catalyst that showed the best catalytic performance was an uncalcined Mg4Al2 support impregnated with 40 wt% of calcium followed by a calcination at 600 °C (Ca600/Mg4Al2HT). Optimum conditions for biodiesel production over this catalyst were a reaction time of 6 h, a catalyst to oil ratio of 2.5 wt%, a 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, a stirring rate of 400 rpm and a temperature of 60 °C giving a final FAME yield of 95%.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1242-1248
Number of pages7
JournalRenewable Energy
Volume146
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2020

Keywords

  • Biodiesel
  • Catalyst
  • Ca–Mg–Al
  • Hydrotalcite
  • Transesterification
  • Vegetable oil

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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