Effect of calcination temperature and MgO crystallite size on MgO/TiO2 catalyst system for soybean oil transesterification

The effect of calcination temperature and MgO crystallite sizes on the structure and catalytic performance of TiO2 supported nano-MgO catalyst for the transesterification of soybean oil has been studied. The catalyst has been prepared by deposition–precipitation method, characterised by XRD, TEM, XRF, BET and FTIR and tested in a batch autoclave at 225 °C. The soybean oil conversion after 15 min of the transesterification reaction increased when the calcination temperature was increased from 500 to 600 °C and decreased with further increase in calcination temperature. Some glycerolysis activity was also detected on catalysts calcined at 600 and 700 °C after 45 min of reaction. The soybean oil conversion during the transesterification reaction increased with the decrease in MgO crystallite size for the first 30 min.

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► MgO was supported on titania using deposit precipitation
► An increase in calcination temperature resulted in an increases interaction
► The catalyst calcined at 600 °C showed the highest activity
► Activity increased with decrease in crystallite size