Purification technology for renewable production of fuel from methanolysis of waste sunflower oil in the presence of high silica zeolite beta

Abstract

Waste sunflower oil (WSO) can be easily produced as a reliable resource sustainable for multifunctional applications. WSO methanolysis in the presence of high silica zeolite beta (HSZB) treated with KOH as a catalyzer in a trans-esterification reaction was used for the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) synthesis. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a co-solvent of 20 wt.% was added for mass transfer intensification. Conversion efficiency of 96.5% was obtained within 4 h reaction time of the reflux reaction, methanol:oil ratio of 9:1, 2 wt.% of catalyst and agitation speed of 300 rpm. Furthermore, these KOH treated HSZB catalysts still exhibit acceptable sustainability and appropriate catalysis in the trans-esterification after three consecutive cycling. It is concluded that K2O existing in the pores and the defect sites of the alkali-treated HSZB can be supplied to the surface of the catalysts structure during the trans-esterification in three consecutive rounds to result in 66.3% percentage of conversion.

Keywords

• trans-esterification
• waste sunflower oil
• fatty acids methyl esters
• high silica zeolite beta