Methanolysis of sunflower oil and used frying oil using LiNO3/CaO as a solid base catalyst

What is it about?

The conversion of sunflower oil and used frying oil to methyl esters (biodiesel) was studied using lithium nitrate loaded on calcium oxide as heterogeneous catalyst. Reaction parameters such as catalyst concentration, methanol to oil ratio, reaction time and agitation speed on the conversion of sunflower and used frying oil were investigated. The catalyst loaded LiNO3 of 35% m/m on CaO, after being calcined at 750 oC for 6 h, was found to be the optimum catalyst. The quality of the methyl esters was tested according to the European Standard ELOT EN 14214. The two types of biodiesel produced, seemed to meet all the parameters of the European Standard except the oxidation stability, acid value and the glycerol content for the used frying oil methyl ester only.

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Why is it important?

In the present study, the solid base catalyst of lithium nitrate loaded on CaO was synthesised and used for the production of biodiesel at atmospheric pressure so as to find an innovative catalyst for future use. The catalytic efficiency in methanolysis of sunflower oil and used frying oil was studied regarding the conversion of the oils to methyl esters.

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