Mg-Al Hydrotalcite as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Transesterification of Jatropha Curcas Oil: Theoretical and Experimental Analysis

摘要

Background: Jatropha curcas oil is a potential feedstock in biodiesel (fatty acid alkyl esters) production due to low acidity, good oxidation stability and excellent cold flow properties. Mg-Al hydrotalcites are potentially interesting for the transesterification, given its characteristics as anion exchangers, solid base catalyst and adsorbents. In this paper, a theoretical and experimental study of the mechanism and the kinetics of the transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil using Mg-Al hydrotalcite is presented.