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Assessment of niobium phosphate as heterogeneous catalyst in esterification with methyl acetate
Author(s) -
Alves Matheus AL,
Pinheiro Nadini SC,
Brondani Leoni N,
Celante Dian,
Ketzer Felipe,
Castilhos Fernanda
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.6124
Subject(s) - catalysis , methyl acetate , chemistry , niobium , arrhenius equation , oleic acid , biodiesel , phosphate , kinetics , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , activation energy , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract BACKGROUND The aim of this work was to investigate the esterification reaction from oleic acid with methyl acetate (MeA) catalyzed by niobium phosphate to produce methyl esters. This catalyst has an amorphous structure and large surface area. Catalytic tests were performed according to an experimental design. The results were analyzed statistically and all of the variables were significant, especially the temperature. RESULTS A kinetic study of the reaction was carried out and the most suitable reaction conditions were 240 °C, 10% (m/m) of catalyst and MeA: oleic acid molar ratio 10:1. After 2 h, it was possible to obtain ≈80% (m/m) methyl oleate content. A noncatalytic test corroborated niobium phosphate activity in the reaction. A kinetic model fitted experimental data for the catalyzed and noncatalyzed reactions; kinetics parameters for Arrhenius equation were estimated. In a reuse test, the catalyst showed a gradual decrease in catalytic activity over five reaction cycles. CONCLUSION Niobium phosphate can be considered as a promising heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry