Effect of Chemical Pre-Treatment on the Catalytic Performance of Oil Palm EFB Fibre Supported Magnetic Acid Catalyst

The development of heterogenous catalysts using renewable materials has received wide attention. A catalyst been a preferred choice as it evades the disadvantages homogeneous catalysts, nevertheless, limited activity and longer separation process. current study emphasises preparation new magnetic oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibre carbon-based support material. effect different alkaline pre-treatments over methyl ester conversion rate were investigated. parameters studied by single factor optimisation approach, including loading, impregnation time, calcination temperature, time. Their effects in esterification oleic acid investigated this study. shows that Na2CO3-treated(T)-EFBC had highest 93.5% with 7 g EFB 2 h time temperature 500 °C for h. possessed good acidity 3.5 mmol/g excellent magnetism properties. This showed are magnetically separable exhibited stability 82.1% after five cycles. supported indicates potential option to existing solid is economical environmentally friendly