Biodiesel Preparation from Soybean Oil by Using a Heterogeneous CaxMg2-xO2 Catalyst

An effective heterogeneous catalyst, CaxMg2-xO2, was prepared and tested for soybean oil transesterification with methanol. The catalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction , Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermo gravimetric and differential thermal analysis , and Hammett indicator method. The catalyst with Ca/Mg ratio of 1.0 and calcined at 800 A degrees C exhibited high catalytic activities. Under the suitable transesterification conditions (methanol/oil ratio 12:1, catalyst loading 6 wt%, reaction time 5 h, at reflux of methanol), the oil conversion of 91.3% could be achieved. The catalyst can be easily recovered and reused without significant deactivation.