PVA supported catalytic membranes obtained by γ-irradiation for biodiesel production

• PVA supported catalytic membranes were prepared by mutual γ-irradiation method.
• Adipic acid and succinic acid were used as crosslinking agents.
• Ion exchange resin was used as catalyst in lauric acid esterification to biodiesel.
• In batch reactor PVA-Succinic acid membranes showed better catalytic activity.
• Higher doses promoted a slight catalytic activity increase.

PVA supported catalytic membranes have been synthesized by mutual γ-irradiation method using adipic acid (AA) and succinic acid (SA) as crosslinkers and a commercial ion exchange resin as catalyst.These membranes were tested as catalyst under batch conditions in esterification reaction of lauric acid to methyl laurate aiming biodiesel production. The effect of different synthesis parameters such as crosslinker, crosslinker's concentration and absorbed dose on membranes’ physical–chemical properties and catalytic activity was studied. Results demonstrated that PVA supported resin membranes are effective catalysts in the lauric acid esterification reaction. Also showed that PVA-SA membranes exhibit the better catalytic properties and, within the range of conditions studied, an increase in the γ-radiation dose leads to a slight increase of membranes’ catalytic activity.