Solid Acid Resin Amberlyst 45 as a Catalyst for the Transesterification of Vegetable Oil

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Author(s):	Cabral, Natalia Mariano ; Lorenti, Juliana P. ; Plass, Winfried ; Gallo, Jean Marcel R. Total Authors: 4
Document type:	Journal article
Source:	RONTIERS IN CHEMISTR; v. 8, p. 10-pg., 2020-04-29.
Abstract
Commercial transesterification of vegetable oil to biodiesel using alkaline hydroxides requires expensive refined vegetable oil and anhydrous alcohols to avoid saponification. These issues are not present in the acid-catalyzed process; however, the challenge still lies in developing stable and active solid acid catalysts. Herein, Amberlyst 45, a resin for high-temperature application, was efficiently used for biodiesel production by the methanolysis or ethanolysis of vegetable oil. Yields of up to 80 and 84% were obtained for the fatty acid methyl ester and the fatty acid ethyl ester, respectively. Two processes are proposed and showed to be efficient: (i) incremental addition of alcohol along with the reaction for both methanolysis and ethanolysis; or (ii) one-pot reaction for ethanolysis using oil/ethanol molar ratio of 1/18. The catalytic system used also showed to be compatible with used oil (2.48 +/- 0.03 mg(NaOH)g(oil)(-1)) and to the presence of water (10-20 wt. % based on the alcohol), allowing the use of waste oil and hydrated alcohol. (AU)

FAPESP's process:	16/02128-2 - Design of new catalytic systems for the biorefinery
Grantee:	Jean Marcel Ribeiro Gallo
Support Opportunities:	Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants