Title:Biodiesel Production by Transesterification of Soybean Oil with Ethanol using SBA-15 and Al-SBA-15 Catalysts
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Author(s): Janaina C. Marinho, Erivaldo G. Lima, Tellys Lins A. Barbosa and Meiry G. F. Rodrigues*
Affiliation:
- Federal University of Campina Grande, Center of Sciences and Technology, Academic Unit of Chemical Engineering, Development Laboratory of New Materials Aprígio Veloso 882, 58429-900, Campina Grande-PB,Brazil
Keywords:
SBA-15, Al-SBA-15, pseudobohemite, soybean oil, ethanol, Transesterification, biodiesel.
Abstract:
Background: Increasing environmental pollution generated by fossil fuel consumption
has intensified the consumption and development of renewable fuels.
Objective: Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the use of heterogeneous catalysts (SBA-
15 and Al-SBA-15) for the transesterification of soybean oil to produce biodiesel.
Methods: The pore size and surface acidity of SBA-15 were modified by the addition of heterogeneous
Al atoms. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Nitrogen adsorption, Scanning
electron microscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy, and Thermogravimetry.
Results: Results of the characterization study evidenced that a large amount of mesopore and surface
acidity can significantly improve the transesterification reaction with the incorporation of
aluminum into the SBA-15 framework. The best results were obtained with a 24 h reaction time
and Al-SBA-15. The transesterification reaction of soybean oil with ethanol during 24 h showed in
this work presented an efficient conversion of 85.5% with SBA-15 catalyst and 96.5% with the Al-
SBA-15 catalyst.
