title: Synthesis of methyl esters from palm (Elaeis guineensis) oil using cobalt doped MgO as solid oxide catalyst.
abstract: The potential of Mg(x)Co(2-)(x)O(2) as heterogeneous reusable catalyst in transesterification of palm oil to methyl ester was investigated. The catalyst was prepared via co-precipitation of the metal hydroxides at different Mg-Co ratios. Mg(1.7)Co(0.3)O(2) catalyst was more active than Mg(0.3)Co(1.7)O(2) in the transesterification of palm oil with methanol. The catalysts calcined at temperature 300 °C for 4 h resulted in highly active oxides and the highest transesterification of 90% was achieved at methanol/oil molar ratio of 9:1, catalyst loading of 5.00 wt.%, reaction temperature of 150 °C and reaction time of 2 h. The catalyst could easily be removed from reaction mixture, but showed 50% decrease in activity when reused due to leaching of active sites.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Ashikin Ab
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Olutoye
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hameed
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry*; D004952:Esters / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008277:Magnesium Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D010938:Plant Oils; D008277:Magnesium Oxide; D003035:Cobalt; D000073878:Palm Oil