Sodium aluminate as catalyst for transesterification of waste mutton fat

Abstract

Sodium aluminate and its calcinied forms have been evaluated as basic catalysts for the transesterification of waste mutton fat with methanol. The decrease in catalytic activity has been observed with calcinied sodium alumiate. Fat and methanol in 1:29 molar ratio with 1.5 wt.% of sodium aluminate under reflux resulted in 97 % conversion to biodiesel in 1h 20 min. The reaction showed tolerance of additional moisture content of 1 wt.%. ©2012 by Japan Oil Chemists' Society.