Biodiesel Preparation from <i>Styrax Confusus Hemsl.</i> Oil Catalyzed by Magnetic Catalyst S₂O₈^2--ZrO₂/Fe₃O₄

Abstract

Styrax confusus Hemsl., a promising energy plant, was used as raw material for biodiesel preparation in this paper. The transesterification was catalyzed by magnetic catalyst S2O82--ZrO2/Fe3O4, prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. TEM images indicat that the average particle diameter of magnetic core Fe3O4 and catalyst carrier ZrO2/Fe3O4 are 5-20 nm and 30-50 nm respectively. Because of its unique porous structure the BET surface area could up to 140.75 m2/g. The results show that a best catalytic activity is obtained when the solid catalyst impregnated in 2.5 mol·L-1 (NH4)2S2O8, calcined at 400 °C for 3 h, and a high methyl ester yield could be obtained under the optimal reaction conditions of catalyst amount 4.5 % (wt/wt oil), molar ratio of methanol/oil 6:1, reaction temperature 65 °C and time 2.0 h.