Removal of free fatty acid in waste frying oil by esterification with methanol on zeolite catalysts.
The removal of free fatty acid (FFA) in waste frying oil by esterification with methanol was conducted using various zeolite catalysts. The ZSM-5 (MFI), mordenite (MOR), faujasite (FAU), beta (BEA) zeolites, and silicalite were employed with different Si/Al molar ratio in the reaction. The effects of acidic properties and pore structure of the zeolite catalysts were discussed relating to the conversion of the FFA. The MFI zeolite induced an improvement of the removal efficiency of FFA by cracking to the FFA in its pore structure due to its narrow pore mouth. The catalytic activity for FFA removal was lowered with decreasing of acid strength of the zeolites. The strong acid sites of zeolites induced the high conversion of FFA comparatively. The acid strength and pore structure of acidic zeolites affected the catalytic activity in FFA removal.
Chung
Kyong-Hwan
KH
Center for Functional Nano Fine Chemicals, Chonnam National University, 300 Yongbong-dong, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea. chung-sea@hanmail.net
Chang
Duck-Rye
DR
Park
Byung-Geon
BG
D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis; D004951:Esterification; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D009821:Oils; D017641:Zeolites; D000432:Methanol