Applied Chemistry Today

Applied Chemistry Today

Synthesis of biodiesel using KOH/Borax as suitable mixed catalyst via transesterification of waste sesame oil

Authors
1 Department of chemistry, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
2 Department of chemistry, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
Abstract
The catalytic activity of KOH/borax as homogeneous mixed catalyst was evaluated for the synthesis of biodiesel via transesterification of sesame oil extracted from waste sesame seeds with n-hexane. The effects of catalyst loading, methanol to oil ratio, temperature and reaction time in transesterification were investigated. The highest yield of 87% for biodiesel production was obtained at optimized conditions including 0.4 wt.% KOH and 10 wt.% Na2B4O7.10H2O of mixed catalyst loadings, methanol to oil molar ratio of 8:1, reaction time of 2.5 h and reaction temperature of 65 ˚C.
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