Mesoporous nanocrystalline sulfated zirconia synthesis and its application for FFA esterification in oils

- Synthesis of mesoporous nanocrystalline tetragonal zirconia.
- Effect of digestion time, sulfonation on structural, textural and catalytic properties.
- Strong influence of sulfonating agent and digestion time on number and type of acid sites.
- Chlorosulfonic acid (CA) found to be better sulfonating agent than sulfuric acid.
- CA prepared catalyst with 3 h digestion time gave 85% conversion in 80 min at 60 °C.