Efficient biodiesel production via solid superacid catalysis: a critical review on recent breakthrough

Abstract

Biodiesel produced from triglycerides and/or free fatty acids (FFAs) by transesterification and esterification has attracted immense attention during the past decades as a biodegradable, renewable and sustainable fuel.

Sulfated Zirconia with Different Crystal Phases for the Production of Ethyl Levulinate and 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural

“…Heterogeneous acid catalysts can overcome some of the aforementioned issues and were deemed as environmentally friendly catalysts. Among the heterogeneous acid catalysts developed, superacid catalysts exhibit excellent thermal stability and superior acidity, which have been applied to various types of acid‐catalyzed reactions such as isomerization, alkylation, esterification, and transesterification . Zirconia can retain a higher amount of sulfur than other metal oxides, and thus sulfated zirconia is one important type of superacid catalyst and obtained much attention …”

“…Among the heterogeneous acid catalysts developed, superacid catalysts exhibit excellent thermal stability and superior acidity, which have been applied to various types of acid-catalyzed reactions such as isomerization, alkylation, esterification, and transesterification. [30][31][32][33] Zirconia can retain a higher amount of sulfur than other metal oxides, and thus sulfated zirconia is one important type of superacid catalyst and obtained much attention. [34][35][36][37] Zirconia can exist in tetragonal phase, monoclinic phase, or a mixture of both.…”

Synthesis of SO42−/TiO2–ZnAl2O4 composite solid acids as the esterification catalysts

“…Acid catalysts have wide applications in industrial reactions, such as esterication, alkylation, hydrogenation, etc. 1 Among them, the esterication of carboxylic acids with alcohols has attracted growing importance due to the continual demand for renewable fuels, pharmaceutical intermediates, solvents, coatings, etc. 1,2 In particular, esterication has gained much popularity in clean catalytic technologies for the conversion of biomass-derived chemicals into biofuels production.…”

“…1 Among them, the esterication of carboxylic acids with alcohols has attracted growing importance due to the continual demand for renewable fuels, pharmaceutical intermediates, solvents, coatings, etc. 1,2 In particular, esterication has gained much popularity in clean catalytic technologies for the conversion of biomass-derived chemicals into biofuels production. 2 It was generally catalyzed by mineral acids because of their high activities and low prices.…”

Fueling the future; plant genetic engineering for sustainable biodiesel production

“…However, current oil yields from these plants are in general insufficient to meet the bioenergy demands, while the resultant oils are characterized with trace salts, water, and high free fatty acid contents. Thus, genetic improvements to enhance their oil yield and properties has attracted a considerable deal of attention (Alaba et al, 2016;del Pilar Rodriguez et al, 2016).…”