Effects of Metal Ratio and Aging Time of Cr-Ti Mixed Oxides on Catalyst Characteristics and FAME Density

Abstract

Abstract Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) or biodiesel is alternative source for diesel fuel due to its renewability and environmentally friendly nature. In this study, mixed oxides catalysts of Cr-Ti were synthesized by using sol-gel method and used in transesterification of cooking palm oil (CPO) in a batch process to produce FAME. The effects of metal ratio and aging time were studied. The metal ratio Cr:Ti of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 0:1 and 1:0 and aging time between 1 day and 5 days contributed effects on the FAME density obtained from the reaction. The catalyst characteristics in term of surface area, pore size, pore volume and thermal stability were also affected by the various metal ratio and aging time during catalyst synthesis. The results show that Cr-Ti catalyst prepared at 2:1 metal ratio and 5 days aging time exhibit FAME density of 854 kg/m3, which is within the value range of biodiesel fuel property. The catalyst has surface area of 45.88 m2/g, pore size of 190.52 Â and pore volume of 0.1984 cm3/g sufficient to promote efficient heterogenous catalytic activity and has good thermal stability. Thus, Cr-Ti mixed oxides has potential as heterogeneous catalyst to produce FAME from the transesterification of CPO.