Synthesis of biodiesel from soybean oil using zinc layered hydroxide salts as heterogeneous catalysts

REINOSO DEBORATH M.; DAMIANI DANIEL E.; TONETTO GABRIELA M.

CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY

Lugar: London; Año: 2014 vol. 4 p. 1803 - 1812

2044-4761

In this work, the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol using layered heterogeneous catalysts to produce biodiesel was studied. The zinc hydroxy acetate salt Zn5(OH)8(CH3COO)2.4H2O (abbreviated Zn-Ac) and zinc hydroxy nitrate Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2.2H2O (abbreviated Zn-Nit), which have a layered structure, were synthesized (chemical precipitation) and characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, particle size distribution measurements, specific surface area determination and thermogravimetric analysis. Zn-Ac and Zn-Nit were tested in the transesterification of soybean oil at 100 °C for 2 h. Zn-Nit presented 83.9% oil conversion with 51.5% FAME yield, and it was stable in three consecutive tests, also showing good tolerance to aqueous content. Zn-Ac was not stable. The salts transformed into Zn glycerolate at 140 °C in the reaction medium.