Leachability and basicity of Na‐ and K‐based geopolymer powders and lattices used as biodiesel catalysts

Abstract

Geopolymer powders and 3D‐printed lattices have shown promising preliminary results as heterogeneous catalysts for the transesterification of vegetable oils to produce biodiesel. However, questions about the basicity of catalytic sites and the leaching characteristics of metals (K, Na) and hydroxyl groups in the reactional mixtures remained. The leaching of alkaline ions in methanol and biodiesel for powder and printed geopolymer formulations based on K, Na, or Na+K activators and treated at 110 to 700°C was investigated, as well as the physiochemical modifications of the materials. The Hammett indicators were used to determine base strength, and both leachable and total basicities were quantified. The amount of Na and K leached into the biodiesel phase was negligible (<1% wt.%). Methanol leaching reached a maximum of 29.3%. The base strength ranged between 11.0 and 18.4. Potassium‐based geopolymer lattices presented the highest basicity, followed by sodium and sodium‐potassium geopolymer catalysts. The basicity of all formulations decreased gradually as the calcination temperature increased. When compared to the homogeneous catalysts NaOH and KOH, the level of biodiesel contamination with Na and K is 81–93% lower. The findings support the heterogeneous nature of geopolymers as biodiesel catalysts and further validates their use for this application.