SET Proceedings 2978-4387 Caravel Press 10.65582/set.2015.019 2015.019 Esterification of oleic acid with methanol by a sulfonated carbon-based solid acid microspheres (SCMs) ZhangHonglei MaZheng JiangChuangsheng GaoJiarui ChenGeorge Z. WuTao HeFeng Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, 315100, P.R. China Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Energy and Sustainability Research Division, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK International Academy of Marine Economy and Technology, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, 315100, P.R. China Center for Sustainable Energy Technology, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, 315100, P.R. China College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, China 06072016 14 1 978-0-85358-313-4 204 212 6 July 2016 © 2015 Copyright WSSET 2016

A carbon-based solid acid microspheres rich of sulfonated groups (-SO3H) was prepared by simple hydrothermal and sulfonation method using cheap glucose as raw material. The green, non-corrosive, renewable and environmental friendly carbon material was used as heterogeneous catalysts for the esterification of oleic acid with methanol for biodiesel production. The structure and properties of the carbon microsphere were characterized by using Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), elemental analysis, N2 adsorption–desorption test and acid-base titration. It is found that the carbon microspheres prepared under the optimal reaction conditions showed smooth surfaces, uniform particle sizes and good dispersion. The sulfonated carbon-based solid acid microspheres showed high acidity and comparable activities to sulfuric acid for the esterification reaction of oleic acid with methanol. Reaction parameters including methanol/oleic acid mass ratio and catalyst usage amount were studied to get optimal esterification reaction conditions. The catalysts showed high reusability although there is some loss in acidity due to the leaching of active sites, the sulfonated groups.

 Biodiesel production Carbohydrates Esterification Hydrothermal method Solid acid catalyst 25 to 27 August 2015 14th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies SET2015 14 Nottingham, United Kingdom