Abstracto

New catalytic solids for biodiesel production. Study of its catalytic activity for vegetable oils trans esterification reaction

L.Daz, M.E.Borges

The activity of several materials as heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production by sunflower oil transesterification reaction at low temperature was studied. Zeolites, natural materials as volcanic ashes, oxides as La2O3 and hydrotalcite were evaluated as catalyst. These potentially catalytic materials were subjected to different chemical treatments with the aim to increase their catalytic activity. Transesterification reactions were carried out in a slurry reactor at 60ºC, 12:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, 6 wt% catalyst amount and 4 h reaction time.