Evaluation of Shell-Derived CaO Catalyst for Ultrasonication-Assisted Synthesis of Biodiesel

Abstract

The performance of CaO catalysts derived from the shells of oysters, mussels, lobsters, and chicken eggs was investigated. The shell-derived powders were calcined at 1000 oC for 4 hours to yield CaO whereas the CaO-ZnO mixed catalyst were prepared by wet impregnation followed by calcination at 700 oC. The catalysts were characterized by XRF, XRD, TGA, SEM, FTIR and GC-MS. The CaO-ZnO catalysts showed better conversion efficiency compared to CaO catalysts for the transesterification of canola oil. The mixed CaO-ZnO catalysts derived mainly from oyster shells showed the highest catalytic activity with >90% biodiesel yield at 9:1 methanol-to-oil mole ratio within 10 minutes of ultrasonication.