OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 7 2 (June 2017) 2017 02 03 Utilization of spray-dried nanoporous gamma alumina support in biodiesel production from waste cooking oil 10.1007/s40097-017-0214-9 EN Faraz Khanbolouk Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran (CCERCI), Tehran, IR Mandana Akia Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, US Hamidreza Arandiyan Particles and Catalysis Research Group, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, AU Farshad Yazdani Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran (CCERCI), Tehran, IR Yasin Dortaj Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran (CCERCI), Tehran, IR Journal Article 2017 02 03 Abstract Gamma alumina is one of the widely used supports in catalyst preparation, possessing a high specific surface area and good thermal stability. Spray drying is an efficient way to produce narrow particle size distribution and spherical shape powders. In this study, spray drying method has been implemented to prepare microspherical nanoporous gamma alumina with a high specific surface area. The nanoporous gamma alumina support was utilized in the preparation of various heterogeneous base catalysts. The highest biodiesel yield of 99% was obtained at 6 wt% loading of K/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst, using waste cooking oil as feedstock. The obtained results revealed the great potential of the synthesized nanoporous gamma alumina as an effective support for heterogeneous base catalysts preparation in the transesterification reaction.