Al2O3 supported alkali metal oxides (LINO3) for transesterification of palm oil

• Main Author: Muhammad Rozainei, Mat Saat
• Format: Undergraduates Project Papers
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/4355/1/22.Al2O3%20-%20supported%20alkali%20metal%20oxides%20%28LINO3%29%20for%20transesterification%20of%20palm%20oil.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/4355/

Transesterification of palm oil with methanol is investigated under a heterogeneous catalysis system. Biodiesel or biofuel is a great solution in greenhouse problems emitted by petroleum diesel.The supported alkali metal catalysts,LiNO3/Al2O3,with active metal oxides formed at calcinations temperatures of 550◦C.The catalysts will be characterized using the Fourier Transform Infra Red (FT-IR),Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA).The Palm oil and methanol will be mixed with LiNO3/Al2O3 in a 250-mL three-neck round bottom flask equipped with a condenser and an overhead stirring motor. The methanol/oil molar ratios will be varied between 6.5. The mixture will be heated to a controlled temperature by water bath at 40 to 60 oC and the stirring speed is at 400rpm.The sample from the reaction mixture will be collected and kept in overnight.After been kept overnight the samples is settled into two layers.Finally,gas chromatography is used to analyze the product and the desired peak obtained from the GC analysis is compared with the standard calibration.The suitable conditions for the transesterification of palm oil with methanol/oil ratio 6.5,temperature 60oC, and reaction time are 3 hours and loading lithium nitrate 10wt%, respectively in conversion of 93%