Optimization of methyl esters production from non-edible oils using activated carbon supported potassium hydroxide as a solid base catalyst

Abstract EN

The present investigation reports transestenfication of non-edible oik, waste cooking oil fWCO) and waste fish oil fWFCH with methanol using activated carbon supported potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a solid base catalyst.

Actrvated carbon was prepared from polyethylene terephthalate waste and loaded with KOH by wet impregnation method to prepare KOH'AC solid base catalyst X-ray diffraction and Scanning Bectron Microscopy (SEM) were utilized to characterize the resulting solid base catalyst Retention method was utilized to measure the specific surface area of the actrvated carbon and its derrved solid base catalyst, while Hammat indicator method was followed to determine the basic strength of the prepared solid base catalyst.

The prepared catalyst has granular and porous structures with a high basicity and a superior catalytic performance for the transesterification reaction.

Transesterification reaction variables were arranged to obtain the best biodiesel yield.

Thehighest methyl ester yield from WCO (88.12% wAv with an ester content of 96.68% w/w) was obtained by employing 3Jwt% KOH/AC catalyst 9:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 65 5C reaction temperature, the reaction time of 180min and the stimng rate of 600rpm, while maximum methyl ester yield from WFO (92.66% w/w with 96.98% wAv ester content) was produced with 3.0wt% KOH/AC catalyst 9:1 methanol to oil molar ratio at 65"C for ISO minutes of the reaction and 600 rpm.

The prepared solid base catalyst was recoverable and thermally stable grvmg a yield of 70wt% after the 5th cycle.

The fuel properties of the raw oils were significantly enhanced after transesterification with methanol in the presence of KOH'AC and were in conformity with the ASTM D 6751 limits as well.

Therefore, the pre pared KOH'AC composite may be considered as a promising solid base catalyst for transestenfication of non-edible oils with methanoL.