Biodiesel synthesis from acid oil over large pore sulfonic acid-modified mesostructured SBA-15: Process optimization and reaction kinetics

• Synthesis of sulfonic acid functionalized mesoporous silica with large pores.
• Catalysts screening for biodiesel production from low-cost acid oil.
• Optimization of reaction conditions using Taguchi method.
• Obtained 99% FFA conversion under optimum reaction conditions.
• Fuel properties of obtained biodiesel were in accordance with international standards.

Biodiesel synthesis from acid oil (AO) containing high free fatty acids (FFA) over pore expanded sulfonic acid functionalized mesostructured SBA-15 was studied. Reaction parameters affecting the FAME yield were optimized using Taguchi design. 99% FFA conversion was obtained under optimum conditions viz. at 100 °C with 4 wt.% catalyst amount and 1:15 oil to methanol ratio after 8 h. Kinetic study revealed that the reaction followed pseudo first order kinetic law.

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