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Transesterification of sunflower oil on single step sol-gel made Al2O3 supported CaO catalysts: effect of basic
Emin Selahattin Umdu1, Erol Seker
1Izmir Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Gulbahce Campus, Urla, Izmir 35430, Turkey. selahattin_umdu@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The activities of single step sol-gel made calcium oxide on alumina catalysts were studied as a function of CaO loading, methanol/oil molar ratio and the amount of the catalyst in the transesterification of sunflower oil at 50°C. Also, the turnover frequency (TOF) of the catalysts was calculated to better understand the relationship between the basicity/basic strength and the catalytic activity. From volcano curve (TOF vs. basic strength), it was found that under 50°C and methanol/oil molar ratio of 9, 60% CaO/Al(2)O(3) had the highest turnover frequency, 0.028s(-1), whereas 85% CaO/Al(2)O(3) showed the highest biodiesel yield, ∼96.6%, but TOF obtained on it was 0.012s(-1). It seemed that 60% CaO catalyst had the proper basic strength to obtain the highest TOF.
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