Sulfonated porous carbon catalysts for biodiesel production: Clear effect of the carbon particle size on the catalyst synthesis and properties

TAMBORINI LUCIANO; MILITELLO PAULA; BARBERO CESAR; ACEVEDO DIEGO

FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2016

0378-3820

Sulfonated porous carbons (PCs-SO3H) are prepared by the sol-gel reaction of resorcinol and formaldehyde. Theporosity is maintained during drying using a cationic polyelectrolyte as pore stabilizer. It was found that varyingthe Resorcinol/Na2CO3 molar rate, different resins are produced which, after pyrolysis, give carbonaceous materialswith different textural properties. It seems that a Resorcinol/Na2CO3 molar ratio of 200:1 was the optimalcondition to produce a well-developed porous structure. Both resins and carbon materials are sulfonated bytreatment with sulphuric acid. The relation between the carbon particles size, the sulfonation efficiency and itsperformance as a catalyst is studied. The higher amount of sulfonic groups, and thermal stability, aswell as bettercatalytic performance, was obtainedwhen smaller porous carbon particles were chosen by sieving. PCs-SO3Hexhibitedhigh efficiency for the esterification reaction and high performance for biodiesel production. The catalystscan be recycled several timeswith a minimal loss of activity. Thermal analysis evidenced stability up to ca. 200 °C,allowing the use of this catalyst at high temperature. The simple synthesis and low cost of the PCs-SO3Hs makethem promising catalysts for the synthesis of biodiesel.