Synthesis of biodiesel from soybean oil and methanol catalyzed by cationic ion-exchange resin in a ultrasonic reactor

摘要

To improve the efficiency of the production of biodiesel (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester, FAME), a new production method for FAME is developed. The transesterification was carried out in a ultrasonic reactor using solid acid catalysts (cation-exchange resin or zeolite beta) under the atmospheric condition; the average pore size for these catalysts were determined by itrogen adsorption experiments, the FAME content in the reaction mixture were quantified by a potassium hydroxide aponification method, and the product was investigated by FTIR imaging for further structural analysis. Experimental results showed that cation-exchange resin NKC-9 exhibited higher catalytic activity than zeolite beta, which may be correlated to the larger pore size of the NKC-9 produced stronger cavitations effect. When the methanol/ soybean oil molar ratio was 20, reaction temperature at 333K, reaction time 6 hours and catalyst/soybean oil mass ratio of 1.08wt%, the conversion of triglyceride 68.1 wt% was obtained from this optimal reaction condition.