title: Base catalytic transesterification of vegetable oil.
abstract: Sustainable economic and industrial growth requires safe, sustainable resources of energy. Biofuel is becoming increasingly important as an alternative fuel for the diesel engine. The use of non-edible vegetable oils for biofuel production is significant because of the increasing demand for edible oils as food. With the recent debate of food versus fuel, some non-edible oils like soapnut and Jatropha (Jatropha curcus. L) are being investigated as possible sources of biofuel. Recent research has focused on the application of heterogeneous catalysis. This review considers catalytic transesterification and the possibility of heterogeneous base catalysts. The process of transesterification, and the effect of parameters, mechanism and kinetics are reviewed. Although chromatography (GC and HPLC) are the analytical methods most often used for biofuel characterization, other techniques and some improvements to analytical methods are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Chem Education Consultancy, Aberdeen UK. kalidas2006@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Kalidas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mainali
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D002384:Catalysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004951:Esterification; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D031286:Jatropha / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008673:Metals, Alkaline Earth / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D056804:Biofuels; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008673:Metals, Alkaline Earth; D010938:Plant Oils; D017641:Zeolites