Badday, Ali Sabri
(2013)
Transesterification Of Crude Jatropha Oil By Ultrasound-Assisted Process In The Presence Of Heteropolyacid Based Catalysts.
PhD thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Abstract
The current research work research work focused on the investigation of FAME production from high FFA and water content crude Jatropha oil through an ultrasound-assisted process. The ultrasonic energy was invested to overcome the barrier of poor contact between the oil and methanol due to the immiscible nature of them reducing the required reaction time and temperature. New heterogeneous acid catalysts based on heteropoly acid were synthesized, characterized and used in the transesterification reaction. Tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) was immobilized on activated carbon (AC) and gamma alumina (Al) or converted to its cesium (Cs) salt to improve its resistance against the solubility in the polar reaction media. Different TPA loadings on the supports and various molar ratios of cesium to TPA were studied and characterized. TPA20-AC, TPA25-Al and Cs salt with molar ratio of 1.5 were used in the investigation of the optimum reaction conditions with the aid of design of experiments software (DOE). Four reaction variables including reaction time (10-50 min), reactants molar ratio (5:1-25:1), ultrasonic amplitude (30-90 %) and catalyst amount (2.5-4.5 w/w oil) were chosen and optimized to generate thorough understanding on the behavior of the system under ultrasonic conditions. The catalysts were also investigated for possible reusability and leaching phenomenon under ultrasonic conditions.
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