Post-functionalization of polymeric mesoporous C@Zn core–shell spheres used for methyl ester production

Soroush Soltani, Umer Rashid, Robiah Yunus, Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap and Saud Ibrahim Al-Resayes

Renewable Energy, 2016, vol. 99, issue C, 1235-1243

Abstract: In the present study, the mesoporous carbon@zinc (C@Zn) core-shell spheres were hydrothermally synthesized, using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the surfactant and d-glucose as the pore forming agent. Then, the post-sulfonation treatment was carried out to prepare polymeric mesoporous SO3H-ZnO catalyst. The physicochemical, structural, textural and morphological properties of the synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), surface area analysis (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller equation), temperature programed desorption (TPD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The polymeric mesoporous SO3H-ZnO catalyst owned a high surface area of 396.56 m2/g with the average pore size of 3.45 nm and acid strength of 1.92 ± 0.05 mmol/g. The catalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst was further studied via esterification of the palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), using a microwave-assisted technique. The biodiesel yield of 91.20% was achieved under the optimized esterification conditions as follows: the methanol to PFAD molar ratio of 9:1, catalyst concentration of 1.5 wt%, reaction temperature of 90 °C and reaction time of 15 min. The spent mesoporous catalyst was highly stable for reuse with nine continuous runs without further treatment.

Keywords: Mesoporous catalyst; Hydrothermal method; Surface modification; Post-sulfonation treatment; Esterification; Microwave-assisted technique (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:99:y:2016:i:c:p:1235-1243

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.08.025

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