Author/Authors :
Khanbolouk, Faraz , Akia, Mandana Department of Mechanical Engineering - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, USA , Arandiyan, Hamidreza School of Chemical Engineering - The University of New South Wales, Australia , Yazdani, Farshad , Dortaj, Yasin
Abstract :
Gamma alumina is one of the widely used supports
in catalyst preparation, possessing a high specific
surface area and good thermal stability. Spray drying is an
efficient way to produce narrow particle size distribution
and spherical shape powders. In this study, spray drying
method has been implemented to prepare microspherical
nanoporous gamma alumina with a high specific surface
area. The nanoporous gamma alumina support was utilized
in the preparation of various heterogeneous base catalysts.
The highest biodiesel yield of 99% was obtained at 6 wt%
loading of K/c-Al2O3 catalyst, using waste cooking oil as
feedstock. The obtained results revealed the great potential
of the synthesized nanoporous gamma alumina as an
effective support for heterogeneous base catalysts preparation
in the transesterification reaction.
Keywords :
Nanoporous gamma alumina , Heterogeneous base catalyst , Waste cooking oil , Transesterification
