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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Market Quality and Handling Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #261299
Title: Kl-impregnated Oyster Shells as a Solid Catalyst for Soybean Oil Transesterificaton

Author
item JAIRAM, SUGUNA - North Carolina State University
item KOLAR, PRAVEEN - North Carolina State University
item SHARMA-SHIVAPPA, RATNA - North Carolina State University
item OSBORNE, JASON - North Carolina State University
item Davis, Jack

Submitted to: Bioresource Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/12/2011
Publication Date: 12/10/2012
Citation: Jairam, S., Kolar, P., Sharma-Shivappa, R., Osborne, J., Davis, J.P. 2012. Kl-impregnated Oyster Shells as a Solid Catalyst for Soybean Oil Transesterificaton. Bioresource Technology. 104: 329-335.

Interpretive Summary: Standard methods for biodiesel production require large amounts of water and resulting waste streams are toxic. To circumvent this problem, many groups are researching the use of solid state catalysts to directly convert oils into biodiesel. This work describes the use of KI-impregnated oyster shells for this purpose. These catalysts are shown effective at converting soybean oil into biodiesel in batch reactor systems and some process conditions are optimized. This work suggests that oyster shells, an inexpensive agricultural byproduct, have potential for being modified and subsequently utilized as biodiesel catalysts.

Technical Abstract: Research on inexpensive and green catalysts is needed for economical production of biodiesel. The goal of the research was to test KI-impregnated oyster shell as a solid catalyst for transesterification of soybean oil. Specific objectives were to characterize KI-impregnated oyster shell, determine the effect of reaction variables, and determine the reaction kinetics. The catalyst was synthesized by wet impregnating KI on calcined oyster shells. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the presence of portlandite and potassium iodide on the surface and a 31-fold increase in surface as a result of calcination and KI impregnation. Under the conditions tested, ideal reaction variables were 1 mmol g-1 for catalyst loading, 50 °C for temperature, 10:1 for methanol/oil ratio, and 4 h for reaction time. The transesterification followed a first-order reaction (k = 0.4385 h-1). The option of using oyster shell for the production of transesterification catalysts could have economic benefits to the aquaculture industry in the US.