Biodiseale SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF K2O-CaO/γ-Al2O3 CATALYST FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM WASTE COOKING PALM OIL

Abstract

This study has focused on the preparation and characterization of K₂O-CaO/γ-Al₂O₃ supported catalyst for transesterification of waste cooking palm oil with methanol to produce biodiesel. The catalyst was prepared by wet impregnation followed by activation at 700^oC for 4:30h in the furnace. The catalyst was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ICP-OES and Hammett indicator method. It was found that as prepared catalyst is highly active for the transfection reaction, up to 100% conversion was achieved. The leaching tendency of the catalyst was analyzed after using for four consecutive cycles by ICP-OES machine and it was determined that 18% K and 8.5% Ca leached into the reaction media at the end of the fourth cycle. Also, this study consists of the optimization of the biodiesel yield produced via transesterification of waste cooking palm oil using K₂O-CaO/γ-Al₂O₃ solid base catalyst. Response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the operating parameters. Methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst loading, and reaction temperature were chosen as the variables and the response selected was biodiesel yield. The optimum reaction conditions obtained were a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 12:1, catalyst loading of 5.6wt%, and reaction temperature of 64°C. At these optimal operating conditions, biodiesel yield obtained was 96% for 3h reaction. Biodiesel was chemically characterized with ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR machine.