Development of a new biodiesel that integrates glycerol, by using CaO as heterogeneous catalyst, in the partial methanolysis of sunflower oil

In this research have been achieved the optimized experimental conditions to obtain the partial transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol, using CaO as an alkaline heterogeneous catalyst, to produce one mole of monoglicride (MG) and two moles of fatty acids methyl esters (FAME). This blend constitutes a new type of biofuel (Ecodiesel), applicable to diesel engines, which integrates the glycerine as monoglyceride (MG). Thus, similar results to those previously described by enzymatic partial alcoholysis of triglycerides are obtained through the kinetic control of the chemical reaction, so that the same type of biodiesel is obtained by using CaO, instead of the more expensive lipases. er to obtain an improvement in conversion and kinematic viscosity, the influence on catalytic performance of several kinetic parameters was separately evaluated. It was obtained that a 6:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, 7 wt% CaO catalyst, 65 °C reaction temperature, 60 min time reaction and 0.3% water content respect to oil, gave the best results. Besides, CaO catalyst maintained sustained activity after being repeatedly used for 20 cycles.