Biodiesel production using biguanide-functionalized hydroxyapatite-encapsulated-γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. (15th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xie, Wenlei; Han, Yuxiang; Tai, Shuangna
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 210(2017)
• Page Start: 83
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2017-12-15
• Subjects: Magnetic nanoparticles -- Hydroxyapatite -- Transesterification -- Biguanide -- Soybean oil; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.08.054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Highlights: The biguanide base was successfully bound to HAp-γ-Fe2 O3 nanocomposites. The inorganic-organic hybrid catalyst was effective in transesterification reaction. The catalytic activity and recyclability of the catalyst were investigated. Abstract: The main purpose of the present research is to develop an environmentally more attractive process for the production of biodiesel by using a magnetic separable solid catalyst. To achieve this, hydroxyapatite-encapsulated γ-Fe2 O3 nanoparticles (HAp-γ-Fe2 O3 ) were prepared, and organic biguanide was then bound to the magnetic carrier via covalent attachments. The magnetic carrier and biguanide-functionalized HAp-γ-Fe2 O3 were fully characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. Results demonstrated that the biguanide was successfully immobilized on the HAp-γ-Fe2 O3 without damage to the morphology and structure of the HAp-γ-Fe2 O3 carrier. The so-prepared inorganic-organic hybrid nanocomposites exhibited a strong magnetic response and displayed better catalytic activities in the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol for the production of biodiesel. By using the methanol/oil molar ratio of 25:1 and catalyst loading of 3 wt%, the maximum oil conversion of 99.6% was achieved over the solid base catalyst at reflux of methanol after 3 h of reaction. Further, the solid catalyst could be recovered facilely by simple magnetic separation and maintains satisfactory catalytic activity after being recycled for five times.