title: Biodiesel production from transesterification of palm oil with methanol over CaO supported on bimodal meso-macroporous silica catalyst.
abstract: Calcium oxide-loaded porous materials have shown promise as catalysts in transesterification. However, the slow diffusion of bulky triglycerides through the pores limited the activity of calcium oxide (CaO). In this work, bimodal meso-macroporous silica was used as a support to enhance the accessibility of the CaO dispersed inside the pores. Unimodal porous silica having the identical mesopore diameter was employed for the purpose of comparison. Effects of CaO content and catalyst pellet size on the yield of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were investigated. The basic strength was found to increase with increasing the CaO content. The CaO-loaded bimodal porous silica catalyst with the pellet size of 325μm achieved a high %FAME of 94.15 in the first cycle, and retained an excellent %FAME of 88.87 after five consecutive cycles.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Center for Advanced Studies in Nanotechnology and Its Applications in Chemical Food and Agricultural Industries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; NANOTEC-KU-Center of Excellence on Nanoscale Materials Design for Green Nanotechnology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Electronic address: fengttwi@ku.ac.th.
authors: Thongthai
authors: T
authors: Witoon
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
authors: Sittisut
authors: S
authors: Bumrungsalee
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
authors: Peerawut
authors: P
authors: Vathavanichkul
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
authors: Supaphorn
authors: S
authors: Palitsakun
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
authors: Maythee
authors: M
authors: Saisriyoot
authors: Nanomaterials for Energy and Catalysis Laboratory, National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
authors: Kajornsak
authors: K
authors: Faungnawakij
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002384:Catalysis / Q000187:drug effects; D004951:Esterification / Q000187:drug effects; D000432:Methanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010316:Particle Size; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D016062:Porosity; D059027:Recycling; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D010087:Oxides; D010938:Plant Oils; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000073878:Palm Oil; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C016538:lime; D009584:Nitrogen; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Bimodal porous silica; Biodiesel; Calcium oxide; Heterogeneous catalyst; Pellet size