Biodiesel production from frying oil using zinc-doped calcium oxide as heterogeneous catalysts

ABSTRACT

Limited reserves of traditional fossil fuels, up and down on the crude oil prices, and environmental degradation have focused the worldwide researcher’s interest in the alternative fuels that can be used in existing diesel engine without any engine modification. In this work, zinc-doped (1.5–5 wt%) calcium oxide (Zn/Cao) heterogeneous catalysts have been prepared using wet impregnation method and calcined at 700°C. The 5-ZnCaO-700 showed highest catalytic activity and gave <98% fatty acid methyl esters at 12:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, 65°C reaction temperature, and 2.2 h reaction time. HNMR was employed for the quantification of biodiesel.

KEYWORDS:

• Calcination temperature
• calcium oxide
• heterogeneous catalysts
• transesterification
• waste cooking oil
• zinc oxide

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely appreciate the assistance of the school of chemistry and biochemistry department of Thapar University.