Optimization of Sulfonated Sago Pith Waste Catalyst for Conversion of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate to Biodiesel

Abstract

Carbon-based catalysts were reported to hold advantages such as being cost-effective, eco-friendly while having good stability and high selectivity in catalytic processes. Optimization of sulfonated sago pith waste (s-SPW) catalyst as a starch-rich biomass-derived solid acid catalyst for conversion of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) feedstock to biodiesel product was performed in this study. Synthesis condition of s-SPW catalyst was optimized through the design of experiment (DOE) optimization by employing Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using Statistica Software V10.0. Four independent variables for the synthesis of s-SPW catalyst, including carbonization temperature, carbonization time, sulfonation temperature and sulfonation time were studied for the optimization work with the response of biodiesel yield. DOE was carried out by utilizing Central Composite Design (CCD) of 4 factors with 26 runs. The optimum synthesis condition of s-SPW catalyst was found at a carbonization temperature of 338.49 °C, carbonization time of 69.44 min, sulfonation temperature of 156.32 °C and sulfonation time of 7.13 min with a biodiesel yield of 69.51 %. Conversion of PFAD with s-SPW catalyst is a promising, greener and cost-effective synthetic route for biodiesel production.