Synthesis and Characterization of Natural Ca(OH)2/KF Superbase Catalyst for Biodiesel Production from Palm Oil

Abstract

The natural Ca(OH) 2 /KF superbase catalyst was synthesized by grinding and calcinations with a rapid thermal annealing method. It was applied to transesterification of palm oil into biodiesel. The effect of molar ratio Ca(OH) 2 to KF and calcinations temperature on the catalyst character and the catalytic activity was investigated. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, FTIR, CO 2 -TPD, surface area, and TGA. The results indicated that natural Ca(OH) 2 reacted to KF in forming monoclinic and orthorhombic KCAF 3 . The monoclinic KCF 3 was produced by reaction between Ca(OH) 2 and KF, whereas the orthorhombic KCaF 3 was produced by reaction between CaCO 3 impurities and KF. The best catalyst was natural Ca(OH) 2 /KF with molar ratio of Ca(OH)2 to KF 0.8:1 and calcinations at 500 o C. The catalyst was able to convert 97.6 % oil into biodiesel within 1 min. at 5 % catalyst, molar ratio oil/methanol of 1/12, reaction temperature of 65 o C.

Free Fatty Acids Esterification on Palm Oil Sludge using Zirconia-supported Indonesia Natural Zeolite as Heterogeneous Catalyst

“…Many types of vegetable oil sources such as soybean 1 , corn 2,3 , palm oil 4,5 , coconut 6 , sunflower 7 , canola 8 , and bran 9 can be utilized as feedstocks to produce biodiesel. However, the utilization of vegetable oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production has many drawbacks i.e.…”