Sulfonated Sargassum horneri carbon as solid acid catalyst to produce biodiesel via esterification

Area of Science:

• Green Chemistry
• Catalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Biodiesel production is crucial for sustainable energy.
• Developing efficient and reusable catalysts is essential for cost-effective biodiesel synthesis.
• Seaweed-derived materials offer a promising source for novel catalyst development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a solid acid catalyst from sulfonated Sargassum horneri carbon.
• To investigate the catalyst's efficiency in the esterification of oleic acid with methanol for biodiesel production.
• To optimize reaction conditions and assess the catalyst's reusability.

Main Methods:

• Carbonization of Sargassum horneri followed by sulfonation to create the solid acid catalyst.
• Characterization of the catalyst using various analytical techniques.
• Optimization of esterification reaction parameters including catalyst dosage, molar ratio, temperature, and time.

Main Results:

• The catalyst exhibited an acid density of 1.40 mmol/g under optimized preparation conditions (300°C carbonization, 90°C sulfonation).
• Optimal esterification conditions (10 wt% catalyst, 15:1 methanol/oleic acid ratio, 70°C, 3h) yielded a 96.4% conversion of oleic acid.
• The catalyst maintained high activity, achieving 95.4% conversion after four regeneration cycles.

Conclusions:

• Sulfonated Sargassum horneri carbon serves as an effective solid acid catalyst for biodiesel production.
• The catalyst's amorphous carbon layers and sulfonic acid groups contribute to efficient esterification.
• The catalyst's high activity, stability, and recyclability make it a viable option for sustainable biodiesel synthesis.