One-step biodiesel production from waste cooking oils over metal incorporated MCM-41; positive effect of template

MCM-41 materials modified with Mg, Co, and Zn were prepared by direct synthesis method. The template-containing catalysts as bifunctional catalysts were evaluated for simultaneous esterification and transesterification reactions of waste cooking oil. All catalysts showed high FAME yield (≥92%) with methanol to oil mass ratio of 8:1, after 3 h. It was also found that [CTA]MCM-41 had a high catalytic activity achieving a maximum FAME yield of 93%. It might be because of the basicity and hydrophobicity induced by organic template. Furthermore, these catalysts can be reused without loss of catalytic activity due to the stability of organic template (CTA+) inside the pores.