Abstract

CASTELLAR ORTEGA, Grey C; ANGULO MERCADO, Edgardo R  and  CARDOZO ARRIETA, Beatriz M. Transesterification vegetable oils using heterogeneous catalysts. Prospect. [online]. 2014, vol.12, n.2, pp.90-104. ISSN 1692-8261.  https://doi.org/10.15665/rp.v12i2.293.

The progressive increase in oil prices and the depletion of their reserves has prompted the scientific community to think of alternative and renewable fuels such as biodiesel. Biodiesel production is carried out mainly by transesterification of triglycerides (vegetable oils and animal fats) and a alcohol in the presence of catalysts. Hydroxides such homogeneous catalysts sodium or potassium are typically used in the production of biodiesel; unfortunately problems associated primarily with increased costs due to the implementation of separation stages and subsequent wastewater treatment, has focused the attention of researchers towards the use of heterogeneous catalysts. This article presents a review of three types of heterogeneous catalysts, alkaline earth metal oxides, zeolites and heteropoly acids, employees transestrification reactions of oils for biodiesel production. Generally, these catalysts have proven effective, selective, easy to separate, reusable and some more than others, tolerable to the presence of water and free fatty acids

Keywords : Biodiesel; Transesterification; Triglyceride; Catalysis; Active site.

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