Preparation of a novel cellulose-based immobilized heteropoly acid system and its application on the biodiesel production

•Cellulose beads were prepared using environmental friendly ILs.•HPWs were first immobilized on the cellulose beads with high immobilized amount.•The cellulose-based immobilized heteropoly acid can be successfully used on the biodiesel production.•The cellulose-based immobilized heteropoly acid can be reused more than 7 times.

Porous cellulose beads (CBs) were prepared using ionic liquid as solvent and then further modified using different reagents which were ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylene tetramine (TETA) and 4-aminostyrene (AST). These CBs were used as carrier for immobilization of H3PW12O40 (HPW). The immobilized catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy, XRD, ICP atomic emission spectrophotometer. The results indicated that CB-(AST-HPW)n possessed higher amounts of HPW and stronger catalytic activity for biodiesel production. After using CB-(AST-HPW)n for yellow horn oil esterification, the conversion yield reached 96.22% under optimal conditions. The final product of biodiesel prepared with CB-(AST-HPW)n was of high quality. We conclude that cellulose-based immobilized HPW is a novel catalyst potentially suited for biodiesel production.

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