Simple fabrication of magnetically separable mesoporous carbon sphere with excellent catalytic performance for biodiesel production

• Magnetic mesoporous carbon sphere owns superiority in separation for recycle.
• It owns superior mesoporosity and uniform spherical morphology.
• It exhibits satisfactory catalytic property for biodiesel production.
• The solid acid presents outstanding renewability.

Considering the problem of separation of carbon-based powder solid acid, facile separation of solid acid shows the superiority for recycling. A novel and magnetically separable mesoporous carbon sphere (MMCS−SO3H) solid acid catalyst was prepared by sulfonation of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticle composited mesoporous carbon sphere with organic sulfonic acid. The results of N2 adsorption–desorption technology and electron microscopy show that this MMCS−SO3H solid acid owns superior mesoporous structure and uniform spherical morphology. The solid acid possesses high acidity of 1.73 mmol H+/g and SO3H density of 1.08 mmol/g, which favor this solid acid exhibiting satisfactory catalytic property for the esterification of oleic acid. The influences of reaction temperature and molar ratio of MeOH/OA on catalytic performance of catalyst were also systematically investigated. In addition, the carbon-based solid acid exhibited excellently catalytic stability and recycling property.

Magnetically separable mesoporous carbon sphere solid acid with superior catalytic property and uniform spherical morphology was successfully prepared via a facile route.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide