Biodiesel production evaluating the use and reuse of magnetic nanocatalysts Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 synthesized in pilot-scale

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4, successfully synthesized by combustion reaction, with special differential in the production, starting from the scale of 10 g/production to a pilot-scale reproducibility of up to 200 g/production, were used and reused as heterogeneous magnetic nanocatalysts in the reactions of biodiesel production. The obtained nanocatalysts were highly efficient in the biodiesel production with soybean oil, such by the methyl as ethyl routes. It was obtained the best activity in the esterification reaction, favoring conversions of up to 99.54 ± 0.16% on the methyl route and up to 99.38 ± 0.18% on the ethyl route. As regards transesterification, the maximum conversion achieved was 14%. Biodiesel was characterized in terms of viscosity, density, acidity and iodine ratios, whose obtained values place the produced biodiesel within the specifications applicable to the quality standards for its commercialization. MNP were characterized by XRD, BET, TEM, AGM and TPD. Besides, the nanocatalyst was recovered with the help of a simple external magnetic field (magnet) and reused in another 3 cycles, without significant loss in the catalytic activity, indicating considerable stability. Therefore, the nanoferrite Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 can be validated as a new environmentally correct catalyst for the heterogeneous catalysis in the field of biodiesel production.