Catalytic production of biodiesel from esterification of lauric acid over a solid acid hybrid

Abstract

In this study, an acidic heterogeneous hybrid (H4SiW/MIL-100(Fe)) was synthesized by incorporation of 12-silicotungstic acid (H4SiW) into a porous metal-organic framework MIL-100(Fe) via a simple hydrothermal method. The hybrid was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and TGA, and those characterization analyses showed the H4SiW/MIL-100(Fe) hybrid was successfully synthesized and exhibited good structural stability. The catalytic activity of H4SiW/MIL-100(Fe) was determined by esterification of lauric acid (LA) to produce biodiesel. Optimum LA conversion of 80.3% was achieved over the H4SiW/MIL-100(Fe) hybrid under the reaction conditions of lauric acid/methanol mole ratio of 1/12, 0.3 g catalyst dosage at 160°C for 3 h. After being repeatedly used for eleven cycles, the lauric acid conversion of the catalyst could still maintain with >60%, which indicates potential cost-saving and affordable biodiesel synthesis possibilities.