The application of calcined natural dolomitic rock as a solid base catalyst in triglyceride transesterification for biodiesel synthesis

Abstract

Natural dolomitic rock has been investigated in the transesterification of C 4 and C 8 triglycerides and olive oil with a view to determining its viability as a solid base catalyst for use in biodiesel synthesis. XRD reveals that the dolomitic rock comprised 77% dolomite and 23% magnesian calcite. The generation of basic sites requires calcination at 900 • C, which increases the surface area and transforms the mineral into MgO nanocrystallites dispersed over CaO particles. Calcined dolomitic rock exhibits high activity towards the liquid phase transesterification of glyceryl tributyrate and trioctanoate, and even olive oil, with methanol for biodiesel production.

Nano-magnetic catalyst KF/CaO–Fe3O4 for biodiesel production

“…In order to circumvent the difficulties with homogeneous catalysts, many researches have been conducted in search for ideal solid catalysts that have high stability, strong active sites, mesoporous and low cost [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Despite the solid catalysts are intensively investigated, there are still many difficulties for industrial applications [16].…”

Cs Promoted Triglyceride Transesterification Over MgO Nanocatalysts

“…Solid base catalysts, such as alkaline earth oxides [4][5][6], hydrotalcites [7,8], alkalidoped mesoporous silicas [9] and even dolomitic rock [10], have shown great promise for biodiesel production. Despite numerous studies investigating the variables affecting catalytic activity [11,12], the influence of basicity on transesterification activity has remained poorly understood, limiting commercial exploitation of solid catalysts.…”

On the Impact of the Preparation Method on the Surface Basicity of Mg–Zr Mixed Oxide Catalysts for Tributyrin Transesterification

“…One application where alkaline earth metal oxides have shown much recent promise is the production of fatty acid methyl esters [17] (colloquially termed biodiesel) by the transesterification of triglycerides from plant or algal bio-oils [18]. This reaction is particularly efficient over solid base catalysts such as MgO, which are well suited to high-purity oils which possess a low free fatty acid content.…”