Microwave Assisted Biodiesel Production Using Heterogeneous Catalysts

Haris Mahmood Khan, Tanveer Iqbal, M. A. Mujtaba, Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar, Ibham Veza and I. M. Rizwanul Fattah
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Haris Mahmood Khan: Department of Chemical, Polymer and Composite Materials Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (New Campus), Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Tanveer Iqbal: Department of Chemical, Polymer and Composite Materials Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (New Campus), Lahore 54890, Pakistan
M. A. Mujtaba: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (New Campus), Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar: Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Technology, Glocal University, Delhi-Yamunotri Marg, SH-57, Mirzapur Pole, Saharanpur 247121, India
Ibham Veza: Automotive Development Centre, School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia
I. M. Rizwanul Fattah: Centre for Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: As a promising renewable fuel, biodiesel has gained worldwide attention to replace fossil-derived mineral diesel due to the threats concerning the depletion of fossil reserves and ecological constraints. Biodiesel production via transesterification involves using homogeneous, heterogeneous and enzymatic catalysts to speed up the reaction. The usage of heterogeneous catalysts over homogeneous catalysts are considered more advantageous and cost-effective. Therefore, several heterogeneous catalysts have been developed from variable sources to make the overall production process economical. After achieving optimum performance of these catalysts and chemical processes, the research has been directed in other perspectives, such as the application of non-conventional methods such as microwave, ultrasonic, plasma heating etc, aiming to enhance the efficiency of the overall process. This mini review is targeted to focus on the research carried out up to this date on microwave-supported heterogeneously catalysed biodiesel production. It discusses the phenomenon of microwave heating, synthesis techniques for heterogeneous catalysts, microwave mediated transesterification reaction using solid catalysts, special thermal effects of microwaves and parametric optimisation under microwave heating. The review shows that using microwave technology on the heterogeneously catalysed transesterification process greatly decreases reaction times (5–60 min) while maintaining or improving catalytic activity (>90%) when compared to traditional heating.

Keywords: microwave-assisted transesterification; heterogeneous catalyst; biodiesel; reaction time; thermal effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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