Sulfonated porous carbon catalyzed esterification of free fatty acids

Authors

• Arash Shokrolahi ¹
• Abbas Zali ¹
• Hamid Reza Pouretedal ²

1. Chemistry Department, Malek-ashtar University of Technology, Shahin Shahr, P.O.Box 83145-115, I. R. Iran.
2. Department of Applied Chemistry, Maleke-ashtar University of Technology, Shahin-shahr, Esfahan, Iran

Abstract

The esterification of free fatty acids (FFA) with methanol is studied using Sulfonated Porous Carbon (SPC) as catalyst. In compare to the amorphous sugar catalyst and protonated Nafion, the proposed catalyst shows stability and high efficient performance in biodiesel production. The highest initial rate of oleic acid conversion is obtained at catalyst loading of 1 mmol H⁺ and mole ratio of MeOH/Oleic acid of 10. The prepared Sulfonated Porous Carbon reused at least three times without loss of activity.

Keywords

• Solid acid
• Sulfonated Porous Carbon
• Esterification
• fatty acids