Effect of Catalyst Pellet-Diameter and Basicity on Transesterification of Soybean Oil into Biodiesel using K₂O/CaO-ZnO Catalyst over Hybrid Catalytic-Plasma Reactor

Abstract

This research is aimed to study the effect of catalyst pellet-diameter and catalyst basicity on the transesterification process of soybean oil into biodiesel over a hybrid catalytic-plasma reactor. Various catalyst diameters (3, 5, and 7 mm) were tested in this reaction system. Catalyst basicity was also examined by comparing fresh and used catalyst as well as with and without K2O promoter. All catalysts testing were performed in a hybrid plasma-catalytic reactor (dielectric barrier discharge – DBD type). From the results, the synergistic effects roles of the catalyst and the plasma in the transesterification process are important, in which the energetic electrons within plasma assist the reaction on the catalyst surface by an exciting bonded electron. The catalyst basicity was influenced by the composition of CaO on the catalyst as well as roles of the alkaline K2O promoter. Catalyst basicity is important in producing biodiesel with high performance. Yield of fatty acid alkyl ester (FAAE) or biodiesel is slightly influenced by the catalyst diameter within the range of diameter studied.

Recent Progress of Plasma-Assisted Nitrogen Fixation Research: A Review

“…The size and structure of the catalyst also influenced the plasma discharge characteristics [155][156][157]. It has been confirmed that the discharge characteristics (such as uniformity, power) can be altered differently by packing catalysts with a different physical property [158][159][160][161][162]. As described in [43], the main effect of catalysts on plasma is the enhancement of the local electric field near the catalyst surface, causing the modification of electron energy distribution, and consequently influencing the reactive species generated by the plasma.…”

Synthesis and characterization of a heterogeneous catalyst from a mixture of waste animal teeth and bone for castor seed oil biodiesel production

“…The catalyst obtained from 100wt% animal bone found to be a higher basicity as compared to the other mixing ratio within calcination temperature range of 650 °C–950 °C. The results presented in Figure 4 indicate that an increased basicity value due to formation of calcium oxide (higher basic strength) as the calcination temperature increased [ 49 ]. The value of basicity reaching maximum of 6.07mmol/HCl at 950 °C and reduced the basicity from 6.07–5.89mmol/HCl as the calcination temperature rose above 950 °C for animal bone.…”