Characteristics of chromium based mixed oxide catalyst in biodiesel production

• Published in: Journal of Physics: Conference Series
• Main Author: Ali Bashah N.A.; Luin A.; Jalaluddin I.A.; Shahhaizad I.A.; Ismail N.F.; Wan Kamis W.Z.
• Format: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Physics Publishing 2019
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85077800614&doi=10.1088%2f1742-6596%2f1349%2f1%2f012143&partnerID=40&md5=d0ac476c2e67afe8ea2be6d130534564

Renewable energy from biodiesel or fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) has become important in recent decades as one of the promising alternative for petroleum-derived fuel. In this study, chromium based mixed oxide catalysts which are Cr/Ca oxide and Cr/Zn oxide were synthesized via precipitation method and used in the transesterification of cooking palm oil to produce FAME. The reactions were conducted in a batch reactor at temperature of 60 °C, methanol:oil molar ratio of 6:1 and catalyst loading of 1wt%. The characterization through N2 adsorption-desorption showed BET-surface area, pore volume and pore size of Cr/Ca oxide are 3.6915 m2/g, 0.00684 cm3/g and 93.919Å, respectively while for Cr/Zn oxide are 3.9897 m2/g, 0.00630 cm3/g and 80.113Å, respectively. Both catalysts showed similar type isotherm which are type IV and hysterisis loop H3. The catalyst Cr/Ca oxide is found to be more active in the transesterication whereby FAME content of 27.8% was achieved compared to 7.4% by utilizing Cr/Zn oxide. The results showed that Cr/Ca oxide catalyst and Cr/Zn oxide have potential as heterogeneous catalyst to produce FAME from palm oil. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.