Catalytic Activity of Cu-CeO2ZrO2 for Biodiesel Production

Abstract

CeO2-ZrO2 was synthesized by co-precipitation (CZ copre) and nanocasting (MSP CZ) methods for supporting 9%wt Cu catalyst loaded by deposition-precipitation (DP) method (CuCZ copre and Cu-MSP CZ, respectively). Both CuCZ copre and Cu-MSP CZ were used in esterification reaction for biodiesel production. Structure and specific surface area of the synthesized supports and catalysts were characterized by XRD and BET tecnhiques. It was found that the specific surface area of CZ copre was less than MSP CZ support. The XRD result of CuCZ copre exhibited the diffraction peak of CuO, indicating the agglomeration of Cu species on support while that of Cu-MSP CZ showed no diffraction peaks of any Cu species, indicating that Cu was well dispersed on the MSP CZ support. Both CuCZ copre and Cu-MSP CZ were treated with sulfuric acid to test their catalytic activity using oleic acid and methanol as starting materials by microwave heating. The optimal conditions obtained were following: 2.0 M sulfuric acid, 5 wt% catalyst, and 12:1 methanol:oleic acid molar ratio at 60 °C for 1h.