Abstract Ca2MgSi2O7 has been investigated in the transesterification of rapeseed oil with a view to determining its viability as a solid base catalyst for use in biodiesel synthesis. This catalyst… Click to show full abstract
Abstract Ca2MgSi2O7 has been investigated in the transesterification of rapeseed oil with a view to determining its viability as a solid base catalyst for use in biodiesel synthesis. This catalyst exhibited both high catalytic activity and reusability, giving a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) conversion of 99% when the reaction was conducted with 20 wt% catalyst and a methanol/oil molar ratio of 10:1 at 190 °C over 6 h. The FAME conversion remained >85% after 16 cycles without catalyst compensation. BET test illustrates that Ca2MgSi2O7 has a narrow pore size distribution centred at 5.0 nm. Transesterification takes place on the catalyst surface, the basic characteristics or basicity of the catalyst decide greatly catalytic activity. CO2-TPD analysis showed that the total number of basic sites of akermanite is 0.8822 mmol·g−1. This includes three different oxygen anions exhibiting different chemical environments on the catalyst surface. The basic strength of oxygen anions increased in the order O2
               
Click one of the above tabs to view related content.