Evaluation of the Processing Conditions in the Transesterification for Biodiesel Production Using the Nanomagnetic Catalyst Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4

Abstract

Magnetic catalysts are easily removed from the reaction process, thereby reducing the wastewater generation. Therefore, the study proposes to evaluate the performance of the nanomagnetic catalyst Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 in the transesterification reaction of the soybean oil to produce biodiesel, varying processing conditions (temperature, molar ratio of oil:alcohol and catalyst amount) on the catalytic reaction. The catalyst was synthesized by combustion reaction and characterized by XRD, BET, magnetic measurements and gas chromatography. The results revealed the inverse spinel phase formation, type B(AB)2O4, with isotherm profile classified as type V with hysteresis loop of type 3 (H3), and surface area of ​​48.39 m2g-1. The magnetic hysteresis curve showed a characteristic behavior of soft magnetic material with saturation magnetization value of 55 emu/g. Chromatographic analysis confirmed that the magnetic nanoparticles are catalytically active and that the processing conditions directly influence the conversion into esters.