Facile and low-cost synthesis of mesoporous Ti-Mo bi-metal oxide catalysts for biodiesel production from esterification of free fatty acids in Jatropha curcas crude oil

Abstract

Mesoporous Ti-Mo bi-metal oxides with various titanium-molybdenum ratios were successfully fabricated via a facile approach by using stearic acid as a low-cost template agent. thermal gravity (TG)/differential scanning calorimetry (DSC. analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM. and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements indicated these materials possessing mesoporous structure, sufficient pore size and high acid intensity. The catalytic performance of prepared catalysts was evaluated by esterification of free fatty acids in Jatropha curcas crude oil (JCCO. with methanol. The effects of various parameters on FFA conversion were investigated. The esterification conversion of 87.8% was achieved under the condition of 180°C, 2 h, methanol to JCCO molar ratio of 20:1 and 3.0 wt.% catalyst (relative to the weight of JCCO). The mesoporous catalysts were found to exhibit high activities toward the simultaneous esterification and transesterification of JCCO. Furthermore, the catalyst could be recovered with a good reusability.