Transesterification of rapeseed oil under flow conditions catalyzed by basic solids: MAl(La)O (M = Sr, Ba), MMgO (M = Y, La)

Binary composites on basis of MAlO (M = Sr, Ba), MMgO (M = Y, La), MLaO (M = Sr, Ba) prepared by precipitation and calcined at 700–1200 °C were characterized by thermal analysis (TG–DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed probe molecule CDCl3 (FTIR), low temperature nitrogen adsorption and heat desorption of argon and their catalytic activity towards the transesterification reaction of rapeseed oil was studied in the flow fixed bed reactor at 200 °C and 20 atm. The phase composition, texture and surface composition of the catalysts are determined by their chemical nature and calcination temperature. The performance of the catalysts calcined at 700–750 °C diminishes in the order of SrLaO > BaLaO > LaMgO ≥ YMgO > BaAlO700 > SrAlO700 and is in a straight correlation with the integrated intensity of absorption of surface carbonate species representing the amount of the strong basic sites on the surface of the catalysts. Thermal treatment of MAlO (M = Sr, Ba) catalysts at 1200 °C exerts minor influence on their performance.

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► Catalysts MAl(La)O (M = Sr, Ba), MMgO (M = Y, La) synthesized by precipitation.
► Catalysts for rapeseed oil transesterification with methanol in flow fixed bed reactor.
► Their surfaces contain three types of basic sites strongly differing in strength.
► The activity of the catalysts increases in order SrAlO < BaAlO < YMgO ≤ LaMgO < BaLaO < SrLaO.