The application of heterogeneous catalysts for the manufacture of renewable biodiesel fuels offers an exciting, alternative clean chemical technology to current energy intensive processes employing soluble base catalysts. We recently synthesised tuneable MgO nanocrystals as efficent solid base catalysts for biodiesel synthesis, and have developed a simple X-ray spectroscopic method to quantitatively determine surface basicity, thereby providing a rapid screening tool for predicting the reactivity of new solid base catalysts. Promotion of these MgO nanocrystals through Cs doping dramatically enhances biodiesel production rates due to the formaion of a mixed Cs2Mg(CO3)2 phase. These MgO derived nanocatalysts permit energy efficent, continuous processing of diverse, sustainable oil feedstocks in flow reactors.

New solid base catalysts for biodiesel synthesis

240th National Meeting (2010)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.