Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated mesoporous NiO-ICG core-shell solid sphere catalyst with superior...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Waste cooking palm oil (WCPO) presents a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production.
• Efficient and reusable catalysts are crucial for cost-effective biodiesel synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel sulfonated mesoporous NiO-ICG catalyst.
• To evaluate the catalyst's efficiency in converting WCPO to biodiesel (ester).
• To assess the catalyst's recyclability and the quality of the produced ester.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal synthesis of mesoporous NiO core-shell spheres using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and incomplete carbonized glucose (ICG).
• Sulfonation of the synthesized material via thermal decomposition of ammonium sulphate.
• Characterization using XRD, Raman, TPD, BET, TGA, and TEM.
• Optimization of transesterification reaction parameters.

Main Results:

• The sulfonated mesoporous NiO-ICG catalyst was successfully synthesized and characterized.
• An optimal ester yield of 95.6% was achieved under specific transesterification conditions (1 wt% catalyst, 9:1 methanol:WCPO, 100 °C, 450 rpm).
• The catalyst demonstrated high reusability for nine consecutive reaction cycles without loss of activity.
• The produced methyl ester met European (EN 14214) and American (ASTM D6751) standards.

Conclusions:

• The sulfonated mesoporous NiO-ICG catalyst is a highly effective and recyclable material for biodiesel production from WCPO.
• This catalyst offers a promising solution for sustainable biofuel generation.
• The synthesized biodiesel complies with stringent international quality specifications.