ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Nanocomposite based on Fe₃O₄/MnO₂ for biodiesel production improving

Adina Stegarescu, Maria L. Soran, Ildiko Lung, Ocsana Opris, Simona Gutoiu, Cristian Leostean, Mihaela Diana Lazar, Irina Kacso, Teofil-D. Silipas, Ovidiu Pana, and Alin S. Porav

National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

E-mail: loredana.soran@itim-cj.ro

Received: 11 September 2020  Accepted: 5 March 2021

Abstract:

Biodiesel production is becoming more and more important lately and different methods for production are searched. Thus, biodiesel can be obtained from different vegetable oils or animal fats using catalysts. The aim of this research was to prepare the Fe₃O₄/MnO₂ nanocomposite and test them as catalyst to efficiently obtain biofuel like the final product from the oil obtained from seeds and grapes residues by microwave-assisted transesterification. Synthesized Fe₃O₄/MnO₂ nanocomposites using chemically and biochemically (using plant extracts) route were characterized regarding size, crystallinity, composition, porosity and specific surface area. The analysis of the final results revealed that the samples chemically prepared show smaller sizes, specific surface area higher and porosity lower than the sample prepared using plant extract. The Fe₃O₄/MnO₂ nanocomposites with the highest specific surface area from all prepared nanocomposites were tested for microwave-assisted transesterification studies. These nanocomposites, used as catalyst, determine an increasing reaction rate of the transesterification process thus being a promising route for biodiesel production.

Keywords: Iron oxide; Manganese oxide; Nanocomposite; Oregano extract; Catalyst; Biodiesel

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-021-01590-2

Chemical Papers 75 (7) 3513–3520 (2021)