Catalytic Supercritical Process for Biodiesel Production from Sesame Oil

چکیده مقاله

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 300^oC 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.