Mono lacunary phosphotungstate anchored to MCM-41 as recyclable catalyst for biodiesel production via transesterification of waste cooking oil

Mono lacunary phosphotungstate (PW11) anchored to MCM-41 was synthesized and characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Preliminary studies for biodiesel production by esterification of oleic acid was carried out and study was further extended to transesterification of waste cooking oil. The Kinetic study reveals that the reactions follow first order kinetics and activation energy for transesterification was 64.1 kJ/mol. The present catalyst can be recycled without any significant change in % conversion. The high activity of this new catalyst for transesterification reactions suggests an alternative path as well as reduction in cost for the production of biodiesel under mild reaction conditions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.