Preparation of Na doped SiO2 solid catalysts by the sol-gel method for the production of biodiesel from jatropha oil

Abstract

A new solid catalyst, Na/SiO₂, which have come in demand recently due to environmental concerns is prepared using the sol gel method by transesterification of jatropha oil with methanol to produce a biodiesel fatty acid methyl ester. Na/SiO₂ with a loading of 50 : 50 molar ratio Na/Si, calcined at 600 °C exhibited the best catalytic activity for the reaction. The conversion of vegetable oil is found to be 99%. The optimum reaction conditions are achieved at the reflux temperature of methanol (65 °C), with a 1 : 15 molar ratio of methanol to oil and a catalyst amount of 6 wt%. The catalyst showed high activity under mild conditions and at a relatively short reaction time of 45 min.