Waste-Derived Green Nanocatalyst for Biodiesel Production: Kinetic-Mechanism Deduction and Optimization Studies

Chee Yoong Chooi, Jia Huey Sim, Shiau Foon Tee and Zhi Hua Lee
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Chee Yoong Chooi: Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang 43000, Malaysia
Jia Huey Sim: Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang 43000, Malaysia
Shiau Foon Tee: Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang 43000, Malaysia
Zhi Hua Lee: Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai Long, Kajang 43000, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: This research focuses on deducing the kinetic mechanism for biodiesel production catalyzed by a CaO nanocatalyst derived from waste cockle shells via thermal hydration–dehydration treatment. In addition, the CaO nanocatalyst preparation method via thermal hydration–dehydration-related parameters (hydration duration, recalcination temperature, and recalcination duration) was studied and optimized. The transesterification reaction catalyzed by the CaO nanocatalyst followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic mechanism with surface reaction as the rate-limiting step. The relatively low activation energy (3786.7 J/mol) for a transesterification reaction offered by the CaO nanocatalyst enhanced the reaction rate to 27.3% FAME yield/hr. The optimal conditions for the thermal hydration–dehydration treatment used to develop the nano CaO catalyst were 6 h of hydration duration, 650 °C of recalcination temperature, and 3 h of recalcination duration. Of biodiesel yield, 94.13% was obtained at a moderate temperature of 60 °C and 3 h reaction time during the transesterification of palm oil catalyzed by the nano-CaO. SEM, BET, and TPD results proved that the CaO nanocatalyst had a large surface area (13.9113 m 2 /g) and high pore volume (0.0318 cm 3 /g) that were rich in active sites (1046.46 μmol CO 2 /g), and the pore diameter (33.17 nm) was accessible to reactants and products.

Keywords: transesterification; biodiesel; nanocatalyst; fatty acid methyl ester (FAME); kinetic mechanism; rate law (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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