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The use of sulfated tin oxide as solid superacid catalyst for heterogeneous transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil

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Abstract

This work presents the use of sulfated tin oxide enhanced with SiO2 (SO 2−4 /SnO2-SiO2) as a superacid solid catalyst to produce methyl esters from Jatropha curcas oil. The study was conducted using the design of experiment (DoE), specifically a response surface methodology based on a threevariable central composite design (CCD) with α = 2. The reaction parameters in the parametric study were: reaction temperature (60°C to 180°C), reaction period (1 h to 3 h), and methanol to oil mole ratio (1: 6 to 1: 24). Production of the esters was conducted using an autoclave nitrogen pressurized reactor equipped with a thermocouple and a magnetic stirrer. The maximum methyl esters yield of 97 mass % was obtained at the reaction conditions: temperature of 180°C, reaction period of 2 h, and methanol to oil mole ratio of 1: 15. The catalyst amount and agitation speed were fixed to 3 mass % and 350–360 min−1, respectively. Properties of the methyl esters obtained fell within the recommended biodiesel standards such as ASTM D6751 (ASTM, 2003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa

    Gerald Kafuku & Makame Mbarawa

  2. School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    Keat Teong Lee

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  1. Gerald Kafuku
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  2. Keat Teong Lee
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  3. Makame Mbarawa
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Correspondence to Makame Mbarawa.

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Kafuku, G., Lee, K.T. & Mbarawa, M. The use of sulfated tin oxide as solid superacid catalyst for heterogeneous transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil. Chem. Pap. 64, 734–740 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11696-010-0063-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11696-010-0063-1

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