Use of Ni-Zn ferrites doped with Cu as catalyst in the transesterification of soybean oil to methyl esters

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to evaluate the performance of Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 ferrite doped with 0.1 and 0.4 mol of Cu as a catalyst for the transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel, using methanol. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption and scanning electron microscopy. The reaction was performed for 2 hours at a temperature of 160 °C, using 10 g of soybean oil, a molar ratio of oil: alcohol of 1:20, and 4% (w/w) of catalyst. The product of the reaction was characterized by gas chromatography, which confirmed conversion to methyl esters. The diffraction patterns showed the presence only of Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 ferrite phase with a crystallite size of 29 nm. The samples doped with 0.1 and 0.4 mol of Cu showed a surface area and particle size of 22.17 m 2 g -1 and 50.47 nm; and 23.49 m 2 g -1 and 47.64 nm, respectively. The morphology of both samples consisted of brittle block-shaped agglomerates with a wide particle size distribution. A comparative analysis of the two catalysts indicated that the catalyst doped with 0.4 mol of Cu showed the better performance, with a conversion rate of 50.25%, while the catalyst doped with 0.1 mol of Cu showed 42.71% conversion.

Mini-review: Ferrite nanoparticles in the catalysis

“…Similar compound, Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe ferrite (crystallite size of 29 nm) doped with 0.1 and 0.4 mol. % of Cu 2+ , was used as a catalyst for the transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel, using metanol (Dantas, 2013 (Dixit et al, 2013). These ferrites were used as catalysts in the alkylation of aniline, showing a maximum conversion of 80.5 % of aniline with selectivity of 98.6 % towards N-methylaniline at 673 K, methanol : aniline molar ratio of 5:1 and weight hour space velocity of 0.2 h -1 .…”

Nanoferrites heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production from soybean and canola oil: a review

“…The reaction can be carried out with 4% catalyst loading by weight with an alcohol/oil molar ratio of 20:1, at 160 °C for 2 h. The addition of 0.4 mol of Cu 2+ ions in the catalyst composition delivers a conversion rate of around 50.25%. This conversion rate can be credited to the higher surface area of 23.49 m 2 /g and a particle size of 47.64 nm (Dantas et al 2013 ).…”

Preparação e caracterização de catalisadores ácidos de zircônia sulfatada para aplicação na esterificação do óleo de algodão

“…Em produção de laboratório, vários métodos alternativos são utilizados para a obtenção da zircônia, podendo-se citar como os mais comuns: sol-gel [6], Pechini [15], coprecipitação [16] e reação de combustão [17]. A incorporação do ânion sulfato (SO 4 2-) à zircônia, após o processo de sulfatação, permite o aumento da atividade catalítica deste material devido à formação de sítios catalíticos conhecidos como superácidos.…”