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Zinc oxide supported silver nanoparticles as a heterogeneous catalyst for production of biodiesel from palm oil
Author(s) -
Laskar Ikbal B.,
Rokhum Lalthazuala,
Gupta Rajat,
Chatterjee Sushovan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental progress and sustainable energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.495
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1944-7450
pISSN - 1944-7442
DOI - 10.1002/ep.13369
Subject(s) - biodiesel , catalysis , methanol , transesterification , biodiesel production , zinc , nuclear chemistry , materials science , polyethylene glycol , fatty acid methyl ester , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Biodiesel, also called fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), a promising alternative to petroleum diesel, has become more attractive in recent years due to its environmental friendliness coupled with its accessibility from renewable resources. This work investigated the novel zinc oxide supported silver nanoparticles (ZnO@Ag NPs) catalyzed transesterification of palm oil to biodiesel. Novel ZnO@Ag NPs were synthesized via homogeneous precipitation of Zn(OH) 2 and reduction of Ag(I) to Ag (0). During the preparation of nanocatalyst, polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000) played a dual role as both the surfactant and reducing agent. The synthesized NPs were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and BET analysis. Biodiesel formation was confirmed by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopic analysis. In addition, different constituents of FAME were identified using GC–MS analytical technique. Under the optimum reaction conditions (methanol to oil ratio, 10:1, catalyst loading, 10 wt%, temperature 60°C and time, 60 min), the percentage conversion of triglycerides to corresponding FAME was 97% as determined by 1 H NMR. Catalyst recyclability tests confirmed that ZnO@Ag NPs could be reused at least for five successive cycles without appreciable loss in its activity.