Biodiesel production using 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid as catalyst

- 4-Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid was used as a catalyst for the synthesis of biodiesel.
- At 80 °C and methanol/oil ratios as low as 4:1, about 100% conversions can be obtained.
- Temperature and the catalyst had a positive effect on the conversion; the effect of methanol was negative.
- Conversions higher than 98% were obtained at 90 °C in less than 2 h.
- A pseudo first-order kinetic model was fitted to the experimental data, with R2 > 0.99.