Research on KOH/La-Ba-Al2O3 catalysts for biodiesel production via transesterification from microalgae oil

Alumina supports modified by lanthanum (La) and barium (Ba) were prepared by peptization. Catalysts with different KOH contents supported on modified alumina were prepared by impregnation method. Various techniques, including N2 adsorption-desorption (Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method, BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FT-IR). Catalytic activity for microalgae oil conversion to methyl ester via transesterification was evaluated and analyzed by GC-MS and GC. BET results showed that the support possessed high specific surface area, suitable pore volume and pore size distribution. Activity results indicated that the catalyst with 25 wt% KOH showed the best activity for microalgae oil conversion. XRD and SEM results revealed that Al–O–K compound was the active phase for microalgae oil conversion. The agglomeration and changing of pore structure should be the main reasons for the catalyst deactivation when KOH content was higher than 30 wt%.