Mesoporous Silica-Based Catalysts for Biodiesel Production: A Review

High demand for energy consumption forced the exploration of renewable energy resources, and in this context, biodiesel has received intensive attention. The process of biodiesel production itself needs to be optimized in order to make it an eco-friendly and high-performance energy resource. Within this scheme, development of low-cost and reusable heterogeneous catalysts has received much attention. Mesoporous silica materials with the characteristics of having a high surface area and being modifiable, tunable, and chemical/thermally stable have emerged as potential solid support of powerful catalysts in biodiesel production. This review highlights the latest updates on mesoporous silica modifications including acidic, basic, enzyme, and bifunctional catalysts derived from varied functionalization. In addition, the future outlook for progression is also discussed in detail.

Automated summary

The high demand for energy has led to the exploration of renewable resources, particularly biodiesel. Optimizing the production process of biodiesel is essential for it to become an eco-friendly and high-performance energy resource. The development of low-cost and reusable heterogeneous catalysts, such as mesoporous silica materials, has gained significant attention. This review provides updates on the modifications of mesoporous silica catalysts, including acidic, basic, enzyme, and bifunctional catalysts, and discusses future prospects.