Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using Co incorporated MCM-41 as green nano catalyst

Co/MCM-41 catalyst was prepared via direct synthesis approach. Biodiesel production by simultaneous esterification and transesterification of waste cooking oil (wco) with methanol was studied using the prepared catalyst. The catalyst activity was found to be a function of its acidic and basic sites which in turn depend on cobalt content and template of the catalyst, respectively. 1H NMR spectrum showed a high conversion of fatty acids in wco to biodiesel in 6h reaction time. A high biodiesel yield of 92.1% was obtained over template-containing Co/MCM-41catalyst.

Keywords:

Biodiesel , Co/MCM-41 , esterification , transesterification