Biodiesel fuel production with solid superacid catalysis in fixed bed reactor under atmospheric pressure

Solid superacid catalysts of sulfated tin and zirconium oxides and tungstated zirconia are prepared and evaluated in the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol at 200-300 degreesC and the esterification of n-octanoic acid with methanol at 175-200 degreesC. Tungstated zirconia-alumina is a promising solid acid catalyst for the production of biodiesel fuels from soybean oil because of its high performance in the conversions over 90% for both of the esterifications. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.