Catalytic transesterification of kapok seed oil by dual metal oxide (Na₂O-K₂O; MgO-CaO) impregnated active-natural mordenite under ultrasonic irradiation

ABSTRACT

Various solid base catalysts have been used for biodiesel production from different edible and non-edible vegetable oils. Hitherto, reports pertaining to dual-basic metal oxides onto an acidic support is very limited. Herein, we have conducted a novel study using Na₂O-K₂O and MgO-CaO impregnated into Active Natural Mordenite (ANM) as Na₂O-K₂O/ANM and MgO-CaO/ANM for kapok seed oil transesterification. The physicochemical properties of the as-synthesized catalysts were analyzed using XRD, XRF-He, SEM, AAS, acidity, and surface area. The results showed that the activation of natural mordenite could reduce impurities, increase acidic strength, and the surface area. A series of ratio on Na₂O:K₂O and MgO:CaO was fine-tuned to give the highest biodiesel production. The catalyst, Na₂O-K₂O/ANM, with a concentration of 50% and ratio of 1:1 showed the lowest acidity, 0.352 mmol/g, and gave the highest yield of 72.29%. The highest yield, 84.54%, was obtained from MgO-CaO/ANM (40%; 2:1), with the lowest acidity of 0.331 mmol/g. Biodiesel properties, from the transesterification of the kapok seed oil, were characterized by SNI 7182:2015 standards. The characteristics of synthesized biodiesel met the used standard, and in terms of reaction activity, it is found that the alkalinity level of the catalyst is more influential than its surface area.

KEYWORDS:

• biodiesel
• transesterification
• kapok seed oil
• natural zeolite
• heterogeneous catalyst

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sumari Sumari

Sumari Sumari is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia. His research interests include catalyst, renewable energy, and biodegradable polymer.

Diah Ayu Sulistyoningsih

Diah Ayu Sulistyoningsih is an undergraduate student in the Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia. Her research interests include catalyst and biodiesel.

Fitri Aisyah

Fitri Aisyah is an undergraduate student in the Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia. Her research interests include catalyst and biodiesel.

Aman Santoso

Aman Santoso is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia. His research interests include food chemistry, renewable energy, and biooils.

Muhammad Roy Asrori

Muhammad Roy Asrori is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia. His research interests include catalyst and biodiesel.

Agus Budianto

Agus Budianto is an Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Technology, Surabaya Institute of Adhi Tama Technology, Surabaya, Indonesia. His research interests include chemical process engineering and renewable energy

Mukhamad Nurhadi

Mukhamad Nurhadi is a Professor in the Department of Department of Chemical Education, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia. His research interests include heterogeneous catalyst, kinetic, and photocatalyst.

Sin Yuan Lai

Sin Yuan Lai is a Professor in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China. Her research interests include Heterogeneous catalysis, structure-properties relationships, nanomaterials.