Catalytic supercritical process for biodiesel production from sesame oil

Sesame oil was treated to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) in supercritical methanol medium in presence of CaO and MgO catalysts supported on γ-Al2O3. Reaction was performed in a 50mL stainless steel micro-reactor at 300oC and 80 MPa. Catalysts were characterized using XRD, ICP and SEM techniques. Liquid products were analyzed using GC-MS and CaO/Al2O3 showed higher FAME production yield than MgO/Al2O3. Alkanes and aromatics are byproducts of reaction. The produced FAMEs were completely unsaturated ones that can be demonstrated that hydrogen gas production in the medium. Results showed that 63%wt and 86%wt of triglycerides were converted to methyl esters in presence of MgO/Al2O3 and CaO/Al2O3, respectively.

Keywords:

Biodiesel , CaO , Fatty acid methyl esters , MgO , Supercritical methanol