Abstract
Lime mud (LM), a solid waste from the paper mill, is used as an economic and environmental friendly heterogeneous basic catalyst for transesterification, which is accompanied by characterization of X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, and Hammett indicator method. To investigate the performance of the achieved catalyst, which is activated through calcination, the aspects of calcination temperature, reaction time, mole ratio of methanol to oil, catalyst addition percentage, and reaction temperature are concerned. Characterization of catalyst reveals that LM could be activated through calcination to transform the carbonate and hydrate of calcium into the oxide forms and higher calcination temperature could lead to stronger basic strength. However, N2 adsorption results indicate that higher temperature causes the sintering of the catalyst and shrinkage of the catalyst grains. When LM is activated at 800°C (LM-800) and the reaction is carried out at 64°C with a methanol to oil mole ratio of 15:1, catalyst addition percentage of 6%, and reaction time of 2 h, the maximum transesterification conversion of 94.35% could be achieved. Reusability of LM-800 is also investigated compared with laboratory grade CaO in five reaction cycles and the results indicate that the catalysts derived from LM can be used as an economic and efficient catalyst for biodiesel production.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hu S Y, Wang Y, Han H Y. Utilization of waste freshwater mussel shell as an economic catalyst for biodiesel production. Biomass Bioenergy, 2011, 35: 3627–3635
Zhang X S, Zhao H, Hu Z J, et al. Effect of biodiesel on the particle size distribution in the exhaust of common-rail diesel engine and the mechanism of nanoparticle formation. Sci China Tech Sci, 2009, 52: 2773–2778
Kouzu M, Kasuno T, Tajika M, et al. Active phase of calcium oxide used as solid base catalyst for transesterification of soybean oil with refluxing methanol. Appl Catal A, 2008, 334: 357–365
Liu X J, Piao X L, Wang Y J, et al. Calcium methoxide as a solid base catalyst for the transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel with methanol. Fuel, 2008, 87: 1076–1082
Viriya-empikul N, Krasae P, Nualpaeng W, et al. Biodiesel production over Ca-based solid catalysts derived from industrial wastes. Fuel, 2012, 92: 239–244
Kumar D, Kumar G, Poonam, et al. Fast, easy ethanolysis of coconut oil for biodiesel production assisted by ultrasonication. Ultrason Sonochem, 2010, 17: 555–559
Arzamendi G, Campo I, Arguiñarena E, et al. Synthesis of biodiesel with heterogeneous NaOH/alumina catalysts: Comparison with homogeneous NaOH. Chem Eng J, 2007, 134: 123–130
Chen K S, Lin Y C, Hsu K H, et al. Improving biodiesel yields from waste cooking oil by using sodium methoxide and a microwave heating system. Energy, 2012, 38: 151–156
Li Q, Zheng J J, Yan Y J. Biodiesel preparation catalyzed by compound-lipase in co-solvent. Fuel Process Technol, 2010, 91: 1229–1234
Wang C W, Chen W, Wang W G, et al. Experimental study on methanol recovery through flashing vaporation in continuous production of biodiesel via supercritical methanol. Energy Convers Manage, 2011, 52: 1454–1458
Liu X J, He H Y, Wang Y J, et al. Transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel using SrO as a solid base catalyst. Catal Commun, 2007, 8: 1107–1111
Dossin T F, Reyniers M-F, Berger R J, et al. Simulation of heterogeneously MgO-catalyzed transesterification for fine-chemical and biodiesel industrial production. Appl Catal B, 2006, 67: 136–148
Gomes J F P, Puna J F B, Gonçalves L M, et al. Study on the use of MgAl hydrotalcites as solid heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production. Energy, 2011, 36: 6770–6778
Ren Y B, He B Q, Yan F, et al. Continuous biodiesel production in a fixed bed reactor packed with anion-exchange resin as heterogeneous catalyst. Bioresour Technol, 2012, 113: 19–22
Kouzu M, Kasuno T, Tajika M, et al. Calcium oxide as a solid base catalyst for transesterification of soybean oil and its application to biodiesel production. Fuel, 2008, 87: 2798–2806
Reddy C R V, Oshel R, Verkade J G. Room-temperature conversion of soybean oil and poultry fat to biodiesel catalyzed by nanocrystalline calcium oxides. Energy Fuels, 2006, 20: 1310–1314
Boey P-L, Maniam G P, Hamid S A. Biodiesel production via transesterification of palm olein using waste mud crab (scylla serrata) shell as a heterogeneous catalyst. Bioresour Technol, 2009, 100: 6362–6368
Chakraborty R, Bepari S, Banerjee A. Application of calcined waste fish (labeo rohita) scale as low-cost heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. Bioresour Technol, 2011, 102: 3610–3618
Nakatani N, Takamori H, Takeda K, et al. Transesterification of soybean oil using combusted oyster shell waste as a catalyst. Bioresour Technol, 2009, 100: 1510–1513
Li Y J, Sun R Y, Liu C T, et al. CO2 capture by carbide slag from chlor-alkali plant in calcination/carbonation cycles. Int J Greenhouse Gas Control, 2012, 9: 117–123
Cheng J, Zhou J H, Liu J Z, et al. Physicochemical characterizations and desulfurization properties in coal combustion of three calcium and sodium industrial wastes. Energy Fuels, 2009, 23: 2506–2516
Sun R Y, Li Y J, Liu C M, et al. Utilization of lime mud from paper mill as CO2 sorbent in calcium looping process. Chem Eng J, 2013, 221: 124–132
Li Y J, Sun RY, Zhao J L, et al. Sulfation behavior of white mud from paper manufacture as SO2 sorbent at fluidized bed combustion temperatures. J Therm Anal Calorim, 2011, 107: 241–248
Han K H, Zhao J L, Zheng B, et al. Sulfur retention performance and modification of alkaline wastes used in coal combustion. J China Coal Soc, 2009, 34: 1697–1702
Modolo R, Benta A, Ferreira V M, et al. Pulp and paper plant wastes valorisation in bituminous mixes. Waste Manage, 2010, 30: 685–696
Niu S L, Li H, Lu C M, et al. Catalytic performance of papermaking white clay in the transesterification of peanut oil with methanol. J Fuel Chem Technol, 2013, 41: 1–6
Li S L, Liu S Q, Li D Z, et al. Determination of biodiesel conversion rate by spectrophotometry. Yunnan Chem Technol, 2009, 36: 71–73
Niu S L, Liu M Q, Lu C M, et al. Thermogravimetric analysis of carbide slag: A potential transesterification catalyst validation. J Therm Anal Calorim, 2013, doi: 10. 1007/s10973-013-3268-z
Zhao G J, Lu C M, Tian Y, B. et al. Test study of thermo analysis for calcination and sulfur fixation performance of calciferous waste material. Boiler Technol, 2007, 38: 69–73
Kouzu M, Hidaka J-S. Transesterification of vegetable oil into biodiesel catalyzed by CaO: A review. Fuel, 2012, 93: 1–12
Roschat W, Kacha M, Yoosuk B, et al. Biodiesel production based on heterogeneous process catalyzed by solid waste coral fragment. Fuel, 2012, 98: 194–202
Obadiah A, Swaroopa G A, Kumar S V, et al. Biodiesel production from Palm oil using calcined waste animal bone as catalyst. Bioresour Technol, 2012, 116: 512–516
Taufiq-Yap Y H, Lee H V, Hussein M Z, et al. Calcium-based mixed oxide catalysts for methanolysis of Jatropha curcas oil to biodiesel. Biomass Bioenergy, 2011, 35: 827–834
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, H., Niu, S., Lu, C. et al. Use of lime mud from paper mill as a heterogeneous catalyst for transesterification. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 57, 438–444 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-013-5440-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-013-5440-x