Preparation of Biodiesel Catalyzed by Supported Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel to fossil fuels with properties such as highiy biodegradable, renewable and non-toxic. Therefore, biodiesel holds significant importance in terms of sustainable development. Supported ionic liquids (SILs) combine the superior properties of ionic liquids with the stability of solid materials, making them ideal candidates for producing biodiesel through transesterification. Ionic liquids are immobilized onto heterogeneous solid materials to make SILs through physical adsorption or chemical bonding methods. This catalyst offers advantages such as providing uniform active sites, enabling efficient utilization of metals, and facilitating facile separation from reactants and products. It has ultimately achieved the efficient production and sustainable application of biodiesel. This paper systematically reviews the research progress in recent years on immobilized ionic liquids on different carrier materials (such as silica, metal-organic frameworks, magnetic nanoparticles, etc.) and uses them as catalysts for biodiesel production. Subsequently, its catalytic performance in the preparation of biodiesel was comprehensively summarized. Finally, the challenges faced in this field and the future development directions were proposed.