Magnetic nanocatalysts of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 doped with Cu and performance evaluation in transesterification reaction for biodiesel production. (1st March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dantas, J.; Leal, E.; Mapossa, A.B.; Cornejo, D.R.; Costa, A.C.F.M.
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 191(2017)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 471
• Publication Date: 2017-03-01
• Subjects: Biodiesel -- Nanocatalysts -- NiZn nanoferrites -- Doping -- Magnetism; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2016.11.107
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Highlights: Ni0.5−x Cu0.5−x Zn0.5 Fe2 O4 nanocatalysts magnetic heterogeneous synthesized by combustion reaction. Dependence of structural, morphology and magnetism of the nanocatalyst in relation to the content of Cu 2+ . Magnetic nanocatalysts promising for biodiesel production. Abstract: It was proposed in this work to investigate the Cu 2+ ions doping influence in the structure, morphology and magnetic properties of nanoferrites Ni0.5 Zn0.5 Fe2 O4 for their application in methyl transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel production. The nanoferrites with Ni0.5−x Cux Zn0.5 Fe2 O4 composition (0.0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.4) were synthesized by combustion reaction using a conical reactor with production of 10 g per batch and characterized by X-ray diffraction, textural analysis by N2 adsorption, magnetic measurements, thermal analysis by temperature-programmed desorption, and biodiesel analysis by gas chromatography. All compositions resulted in the single phase of the inverse spinel type B(AB)2 O4 and adsorption/desorption isotherms of the same profile, classified as type V, with hysteresis loop type 3 (H3). However, the increase of Cu ions doping from 0.0 to 0.4 mol caused a reduction of 37% in the surface area values and 36.4% in the saturation magnetization value. However, this reduction remained the ferrimagnetic characteristic and that is still strongly attracted by a magnet. The Cu ions presence has also facilitated an increase of 5.5–85% in the conversion values in methyl esters obtained from soybean oil transesterification. These results indicate the potential application of NiZn nanoferrite compositions doped with Cu 2+ as heterogeneous nanocatalysts to produce biodiesel.