Catalystic activity of Cu-CeO_2-ZrO_2 for biodiesel production

摘要

CeO_2-ZrO_2 has been synthesized by co-precipitation (CZ copre) and nanocasting (CZ nanocast) to use as support material for Cu catalyst, applied for esterification reaction in biodiesel production. The structure and specific surface area of synthesized supports were characterized by XRD and BET tecnhiques. The specific area of CZ copre less than CZ nanocast supports. 9%wt Cu catalyst were loaded onto CZ copre (CuCZ copre) and CZ nanocast (CuCZ nanocast) by deposition-precipitation method (DP). XRD result of CuCZ copre exhibits the diffraction peak of CuO, indicating the agglomeration of Cu species on support. While, CuCZ nanocast does not presents peaks from CuO crystallites. It means Cu is high dispersing. These catalysts were treated with sulfuric acid. The catalytic activity was using oleic acid, methanol, and operating by the energy-efficient microwave. The optimal condition of these catalyst is 2.0 M Sulfuric acid on 5 wt% catalyst and 12:1 molar ratio at 60°C on 1h.