Optimizing Al/Zn ratios in K2O/Zn-Aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiency
Abstract In this study, a series of K2O/Zn-aluminate catalysts with varying Al/Zn ratios (0.5-4) were examined as heterogeneous base catalysts for the esterification of sunflower oil with methanol. The synthesized nanocatalysts were characterized using XRD, FESEM, EDX, and BET techniques. Furthermor...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| author | Faezeh Mirshafiee Mehran Rezaei |
| author_facet | Faezeh Mirshafiee Mehran Rezaei |
| author_sort | Faezeh Mirshafiee |
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| description | Abstract In this study, a series of K2O/Zn-aluminate catalysts with varying Al/Zn ratios (0.5-4) were examined as heterogeneous base catalysts for the esterification of sunflower oil with methanol. The synthesized nanocatalysts were characterized using XRD, FESEM, EDX, and BET techniques. Furthermore, FTIR and H-NMR analyses were conducted to verify the successful transesterification reaction and biodiesel production. The characterization results the successful synthesis of the K2O/Zn-aluminate catalysts, demonstrating their favorable surface and structural properties for the esterification process. The reactor performance data under the conditions of 70 °C reaction temperature, 3 h reaction time, a methanol-to-oil ratio of 1:16, and a catalyst loading of 1% by weight revealed that the catalyst with an Al/Zn molar ratio of 4 exhibited the highest catalytic activity. This catalyst achieved a biodiesel production yield of 96% and a conversion efficiency of 94.6%. This yield is comparable to that of other synthesized samples. The enhanced catalytic performance can be attributed to the improved structural properties of the K2O/Zn-4Al2O4 samples. Furthermore, reusability tests were conducted to evaluate the practical viability of these catalysts. The K2O/Zn-4Al2O4 catalysts demonstrated the capacity to be recycled for four cycles without a substantial decline in catalytic activity, maintaining a yield that decreased from 96 to 90%. This stability highlights their potential as a sustainable alternative for biodiesel production. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-765c8c1284804660aa3b2bfa67d1040b2025-08-20T03:42:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-11268-4Optimizing Al/Zn ratios in K2O/Zn-Aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiencyFaezeh Mirshafiee0Mehran Rezaei1School of Chemical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)School of Chemical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)Abstract In this study, a series of K2O/Zn-aluminate catalysts with varying Al/Zn ratios (0.5-4) were examined as heterogeneous base catalysts for the esterification of sunflower oil with methanol. The synthesized nanocatalysts were characterized using XRD, FESEM, EDX, and BET techniques. Furthermore, FTIR and H-NMR analyses were conducted to verify the successful transesterification reaction and biodiesel production. The characterization results the successful synthesis of the K2O/Zn-aluminate catalysts, demonstrating their favorable surface and structural properties for the esterification process. The reactor performance data under the conditions of 70 °C reaction temperature, 3 h reaction time, a methanol-to-oil ratio of 1:16, and a catalyst loading of 1% by weight revealed that the catalyst with an Al/Zn molar ratio of 4 exhibited the highest catalytic activity. This catalyst achieved a biodiesel production yield of 96% and a conversion efficiency of 94.6%. This yield is comparable to that of other synthesized samples. The enhanced catalytic performance can be attributed to the improved structural properties of the K2O/Zn-4Al2O4 samples. Furthermore, reusability tests were conducted to evaluate the practical viability of these catalysts. The K2O/Zn-4Al2O4 catalysts demonstrated the capacity to be recycled for four cycles without a substantial decline in catalytic activity, maintaining a yield that decreased from 96 to 90%. This stability highlights their potential as a sustainable alternative for biodiesel production.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11268-4BiodieselSunflower oilH-NMRAluminate spinelReusability |
| spellingShingle | Faezeh Mirshafiee Mehran Rezaei Optimizing Al/Zn ratios in K2O/Zn-Aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiency Scientific Reports Biodiesel Sunflower oil H-NMR Aluminate spinel Reusability |
| title | Optimizing Al/Zn ratios in K2O/Zn-Aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiency |
| title_full | Optimizing Al/Zn ratios in K2O/Zn-Aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiency |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Al/Zn ratios in K2O/Zn-Aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiency |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Al/Zn ratios in K2O/Zn-Aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiency |
| title_short | Optimizing Al/Zn ratios in K2O/Zn-Aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiency |
| title_sort | optimizing al zn ratios in k2o zn aluminate catalysts for enhanced biodiesel production efficiency |
| topic | Biodiesel Sunflower oil H-NMR Aluminate spinel Reusability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11268-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT faezehmirshafiee optimizingalznratiosink2oznaluminatecatalystsforenhancedbiodieselproductionefficiency AT mehranrezaei optimizingalznratiosink2oznaluminatecatalystsforenhancedbiodieselproductionefficiency |