Biodiesel production from Hevea brasiliensis oil using SO3H-MCM-41 catalyst. Issue 1 (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Karnjanakom, Surachai; Kongparakul, Suwadee; Chaiya, Chaiyan; Reubroycharoen, Prasert; Guan, Guoqing; Samart, Chanatip
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental chemical engineering. Volume 4:Issue 1(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 47
• Page End: 55
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: Fatty acid methyl ester -- Hevea brasiliensis oil -- Methanolysis -- SO3H-MCM-41 -- Box–Behnken model; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects; Environmental engineering; Periodicals; 660.0286
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2015.10.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-2929

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Hevea brasiliensis oil or para rubber seed oil was achieved as an alternative raw material for biodiesel production. The methyl propyl sulfonic acid-functionalised MCM-41 catalyst was benchmarked against a commercial homogeneous catalyst (H2 SO4 ) and proven to be more effective. The catalyst life time could be prolonged up to four cycles without reduction of FAME yield. Abstract: The use of Hevea brasiliensis oil (para rubber seed oil) as a biodiesel feedstock was achieved under high pressure in an autoclave reactor using a methyl propyl sulfonic acid-functionalised MCM-41 catalyst (SO3 H-MCM-41). Four experimental parameters, namely catalyst loading, reaction time, reaction temperature, and the molar composition of 3-mercaptopropyl(methyl)dimethoxysiloxane, were investigated using the Box–Behnken design. The optimisation model showed good statistical reliability, with a linear correlation coefficient close to 1. Under the optimum reaction conditions (5.06 wt% catalyst loading, 120 min, 153 °C, and 0.266 of MPMDS molar composition), the highest predicted and experimental fatty acid methyl ester yields were 96.6% and 95.5%, respectively. The catalyst was benchmarked against a commercial homogeneous catalyst (H2 SO4 ) and proven to be more effective. Moreover, the catalyst could be reused up to four cycles under the optimum reaction conditions without significant loss of product yield.