DefinePK

Abstract

Biodiesel fuel is produced catalytically by transesterification reaction where catches the researcher attention nowadays as it is a promising alternative diesel fuel. Edible oil industries produce spent bleaching clay (SBC) as their major wastes. In this work, an environmental friendly transesterification reaction using de-oiled spent bleaching clay (D-SBC) loaded with KOH is being developed. The catalyst loaded with 40% KOH on D-SBC using wet impregnation method followed by calcination at 600°C for 4 hours was seems to give highest basicity and the best catalytic activity for transesterification. The catalyst was undergoing characterization by means of FTIR, TGA, FE-SEM and Hammett indicator test. The effect of reaction parameters was then studied such as methanol to oil molar ratio, reaction time and catalyst amount. The reaction conversion of 85.7% was achieved under the optimum condition. Utilization of D-SBC as an eco-friendly and cheap solid support is a promising. Therefore progress should be made on doping more other metals on D-SBC for transesterification of oil with methanol.