Synthesis of sodium titanate catalysts using a factorial design for biodiesel production

In this work, the synthesis of sodium titanate for the biodiesel production was evaluated with emphasis on the synthesis parameters of titanates in the conversion of vegetable oil to biodiesel. Sodium titanate catalysts were synthesized via sol-gel hydrothermal method and tested as heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production, using a factorial design 2(k). Four experimental factors were considered: NaOH concentration, hydrothermal temperature, TiO2/NaOH ratio, and calcination temperature, using as response variable the catalysts activity in soybean oil conversion to biodiesel. Titanates were characterized by XRD, SEM, and N(2)physisorption techniques. The presence of tri and hexatitanate were confirmed. Trititanate was the most efficient in the conversion of soybean oil to biodiesel, achieving around 80% with an alcohol:oil molar ratio of 6:1 at 55 degrees C for 5 hr and 300 rpm. Among the trititanate catalysts, the best performing sample showed a surface area of 217 m(2)/g with a porous size average of 4.8 nm related to nanotube structure with inter and intra particle mesoporosity. Conditions to prepare the efficient performing catalyst were as follows: NaOH concentration, 7.5 M; hydrothermal temperature, 130 degrees C; TiO2/NaOH ratio, 0.06 g/mL; and calcination temperature, 600 degrees C.