Publication: Sulphated Fe2O3-TiO2 catalysed transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel
Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Sulphated Fe2O3-TiO2 has been synthesized from ilmenite ore and calcined over 300-900 degrees C. The catalyst samples have been examined for acidity by adsorption of pyridine. The spectral studies reveal the presence of sulphate groups and both Bronsted and Lewis acid sites. The transesterification of soybean oil with methanol is studied over unsulphated and. sulphated Fe(2)O3-TiO2 catalysts with varying sulphate contents and the results are evaluated on the basis of acidity. The catalyst samples calcined below 500 degrees C show higher conversion of vegetable oil with significant yield of biodiesel which could be due to the greater affinity of hydroxyl groups of methanol on Fe2O3-TiO2. The sulphated Fe2O3-TiO2 samples calcined above 500 degrees C show lower conversion of biodiesel and this is proposed to be due to the removal of sulphate groups during calcination.