Preparation of basic mesoporous molecular sieves K2O/Mg-MCM-41 and its catalytic performance on the cracking of soybean oils

• Basicity mesoporous materials K2O/Mg-MCM-41 were prepared.
• K2O/Mg-MCM-41 as catalyst for the cracking of soybean oil.
• K2O/Mg-MCM-41 exhibit better catalytic performance than K2CO3 or Na2CO3.
• K2O/Mg-MCM-41 is of excellent stability.
• The cracking products have chemical composition similar to diesel based fuels.

Mesoporous molecular sieves Mg-MCM-41 are prepared in hydrothermal system and characterized by XRD and TEM. By impregnating Mg-MCM-41 with KNO3 solvent, basic K2O/Mg-MCM-41 is prepared. K2O/Mg-MCM-41 is used as catalysts on the cracking of soybean oils, and the cracking products are of the similar acid value as those from Na2CO3 or K2CO3 as catalysts. The performance of cracking oil and the influence of the amount of K2O on catalytic performance are in detail examined.