Síntesis, Desarrollo y Optimización de un Catalizador para la Producción Verde de Biodiesel

Abstract

This work was conducted in two stages. The first stage was the selection of a catalyst out of seven catalysts considered environment friendly (ZnO, Al2O3, TiO2, ZrO2, V2O5, MoO3 and WO3), evaluating each in a test tube and heated in a microwave oven. Besides evaluating the oxides, each of them was functionalized with sulfates, phosphates and chlorides in search of an increased conversion fur their evaluation under microwave radiation. All catalysts were characterized by FT-IR to assess whether functionalization was effective and if there are changes in the structure of the catalyst. Once selected, the catalyst was carried on to the second stage. The selected catalyst was studied and characterized to carry out an optimization by modifying its structure in order to increase its catalytic activity. The modifications to the structure of the catalyst were determined by physical characterization techniques such as SEM, XRD, BET area and FT-IR. Finally the kinetic evaluation of the catalyst was preformed in test tubes heated by microwaves.