Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of Amine-multiwalled Carbon Nanotube for Biodiesel Production

An amine-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was prepared for use as a basic heterogeneous catalyst the conversion of Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil and Hibiscus cannabinus (kenaf) to biodiesel. The 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APTMS) chosen form an amine-reactive surface bind with hydroxyl (−OH) carboxyl (−COOH) groups oxidized MWCNT. Silanization took place using green modification method in which supercritical dioxide fluid utilized under following conditions: 55 °C, 9 MPa, 1 h. synthesized characterized Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive x-ray (FESEM-EDX), Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett-Teller (BET). Transesterification coconut 10 wt% NH2-MWCNT (3 APTMS), 12:1 molar ratio methanol at 63 °C h resulted >95% conversion. On other hand, same used transesterification kenaf oil, formation ammonium carboxylated salt observed. effects temperature, pressure, silane concentration on MWCNT were evaluated terms catalyst’s site density fatty acid methyl ester results indicate that reaction temperature had most significant effects. Copyright © 2022 by Authors, Published BCREC Group. This is open access article CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).