title: Optimization of biodiesel production process from soybean oil using the sodium potassium tartrate doped zirconia catalyst under Microwave Chemical Reactor.
abstract: A solid base catalyst was prepared by the sodium potassium tartrate doped zirconia and microwave assisted transesterification of soybean oil was carried out for the production of biodiesel. It was found that the catalyst of 2.0(n(Na)/n(Zr)) and calcined at 600°C showed the optimum activity. The base strength of the catalysts was tested by the Hammett indicator method, and the results showed that the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield was related to their total basicity. The catalyst was also characterized by FTIR, TGA, XRD and TEM. The experimental results showed that a 2.0:1 volume ratio of methanol to oil, 65°C reaction temperature, 30 min reaction time and 10 wt.% catalyst amount gave the highest the yield of biodiesel. Compared to conventional method, the reaction time of the way of microwave assisted transesterification was shorter. The catalyst had longer lifetime and maintained sustained activity after being used for four cycles.
authors.affiliation: School of Urban Development and Environment Engineering, Shanghai Second Polytechnic University, Shanghai, PR China. yhli@sspu.cn
authors.forename: Yihuai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Jiaowen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Luping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Dongya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fengxian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002384:Catalysis; D004951:Esterification; D008872:Microwaves; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013644:Tartrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D013644:Tartrates; D013024:Soybean Oil; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide; C029768:tartaric acid