Chromium-tungsten heterogeneous catalyst for esterification of palm fatty acid distillate to fatty acid methyl ester

摘要

Chromium-tungsten mixed oxides heterogeneous catalysts were prepared and evaluated in the esterification of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) to produce fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The reactions were conducted in a batch reactor at temperature range of 110-190 degrees C and catalysts were characterized by BET, SEM, TEM, FTIR and XRD. The effects of catalyst preparation conditions (metal ratio, calcination temperature and time), the influence of reaction conditions (temperature and time, methanol/PFAD molar ratio, catalyst dosage) and catalyst stability were studied. The prepared catalyst with formula CrWO2 (calcined at 600 degrees C for 3 h) gave the maximum FAME content of 86% at best reaction conditions (170 degrees C; 3 h, 2:1 methanol/PFAD molar ratio; 1.5 wt.% catalyst dosages) and can be recycled for several times. Thus, CrW02 has good potentials as heterogeneous catalyst for FAME synthesis from high acid value oils. (C) 2015 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.