Appraisal of heterogeneous solid acid-base catalysts for trans-esterification

Abstract

The studies on biodiesel production are mainly focused on the following aspects: (i) Examining the appropriate fuel source (ii) Establishing the adequate alcohol to oil molar ratio (iii) Evaluating the available solid acid and base catalysts. Though homogenous catalysts are superior in terms of reaction rate compared to heterogeneous catalysts, the focus of research on possible heterogeneous catalysts is directed from the points of view economics, easy process and possible adoption for large scale manufacture. The scope of this presentation is to examine these aspects in detail and to provide a comprehensive outlook on the aspects mentioned.