Sunflower Oil Ethyl Esters (Biodiesel) Production Using Extruded Catalyst Based on Potassium Carbonate, Sepiolite Clay and Magnetite

Abstract

Euripedes Garcia Silveira Junior

In this study, a magnetic catalyst based on potassium carbonate, sepiolite and magnetite was prepared seeking to convert efficiently sunflower oil into ethanolic biodiesel. The magnetic catalyst was attained by extrusion method and characterized by magnetic, mechanical, structural and textural properties. The catalytic performance of this catalyst was also evaluated in a reactor assisted by magnetic field. The reactor was operated in a closed loop, recycling the reaction mixture. High oil conversion to biodiesel was obtained using 2 wt% of catalyst with 1:12 oil/ethanol molar ratio at 70 °C after 2 h. The magnetic properties of this catalyst allowed the bed stabilization under magnetic field and the catalysts separation, enabling its reuse in other reaction cycles.

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