BIODIESEL AND FAME FROM TRIGLICERIDES OVER ACID AND BASIC CATALYSTS ASSISTED BY MICROWAVE

Abstract: In the present work several acid (H3PW12O40, methanesulfonic acid) and alkali (Ba(OH)2) catalysts have been tested for trans-esterification reactions both under conventional heating (CH) and in the presence of microwaves (MW). I. PRESENTATION The transesterification of natural triglycerides (eg oils and fats) is employed to obtain fatty acid methyl esters ( FAME) which are key reagents in the chemical industry [1,2]. AME are the raw materials for the production of long chain carboxylic acids, detergents, alternative fuels for diesel engines (BioDiesel) and mono and diglycerides [3], employed as additives for foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals [3]. In a previous work [4] the use of microwave has been evidenced for this kind of reaction. In the present work several commercial acid catalysts, H3PW12O40, and methanesulfonic acid, and heterogeneous basic catalysts, anidrous α and β barium hydroxide and Ba(OH)2 H2O have been tested for trans-esterification reactions both under conventional heating (CH) and in the presence of microwaves (MW). The α and β barium hydroxide catalysts have been prepared from monohydrated barium hydroxide heated at 300°C and 200°C respectively, for three hours under dry N2 flow. The structure of these catalysts has been determined by XRD. The reaction was carried out either at atmospheric pressure or under pressure with different (w/w) methanol/soybean oil ratios. Table I- Results of the transesterefication test