A series of solid base catalysts, KF/Ca−Mg−Al hydrotalcite (KF mass ratio of 100%) with different cation ratios, were prepared and studied in this research. Effects of the cation ratio of the Ca−Mg−Al hydrotalcite and the methanol/oil molar ratios on the fatty acid methanol ester (FAME) yield of the transesterification of palm oil with methanol were investigated. The results of the transesterification reactions showed that all of these kinds of catalysts had a very high activity for the biodiesel yields, obtaining 90% or more with 10 min of reaction under the conditions of 338 K, 12:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, and 5% (wt/wt oil) catalyst amount. In addition, the FAME yield could reach 99.6% in 10 min catalyzed by the optimal catalyst KF/Ca−Mg−Al hydrotalcite (2.2:0.8:1 Ca/Mg/Al; KF mass ratio of 100%), under the same reaction conditions as above.
The KF/hydrotalcite (HT) solid base catalysts were prepared by impregnation and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Biodiesel can be obtained from transesterification of palm oil with methanol over the KF/HT catalysts. The effect factors, such as KF/HT load ratio, methanol/oil molar ratio, catalyst amount, reaction time, and reaction temperature, were investigated. When the reaction was carried out at 338 K, with palm oil/methanol molar ratio of 12:1, reaction time of 3 h, and catalyst amount of 3 wt %, the yield of fatty acid methyl esters can reach 85%, and when the reaction time prolonged to 5 h, the yield can become 92%.
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