Development of Microwave-Assisted Sulfonated Glucose Catalyst for Biodiesel Production from Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD)

Microwave-heating method for catalyst preparation has been utilized recently due to its shorter operation time compared the conventional method. Glucose, a renewable carbon source can be partially carbonized and sulfonated via microwave heating which could result in highly potential heterogeneous carbon-based acid catalyst. In this study, impacts of carbonization sulfonation parameters during were investigated. Catalysts prepared characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET), Temperature Programmed Desorption–Ammonia (TPD-NH3). Analysis screening process discovered that best incomplete glucose (ICG) was at 20 minutes, g D(+)-glucose with medium power level (400W) exhibited highest percentage yield (91.41%) fatty methyl ester (FAME). The total surface area site density obtained 16.94 m2/g 25.65 mmol/g, respectively. Regeneration test further carried out succeeded achieve 6 cycles. turnover frequency (TOF) palmitate, 25.214´10−3 s−1 other component ester. Kinetic study developed throughout esterification activation energy from forward reverse reaction 3.36 kJ/mol 11.96 kJ/mol, Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published BCREC Group. This is an open access article under CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).