Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 29 (3) September 2017, p. 373-379

SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL EUTECTIC CATALYST FOR THE ESTERIFICATION OF CRUDE PALM OIL MIXED WITH SLUDGE PALM OIL

ADEEB HAYYAN*; SHAHIDAH NUSAILAH RASHID**; MAAN HAYYANǂ; M Y ZULKIFLIYǂ; MOHD ALI HASHIM**and NURUL AIFAA OSMAN**

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2017.2903.10
ABSTRACT

In this study, a new eutectic solvent (ES) was synthesised for the first time via mixing (1R)-(-)-camphor-10-sulphonic acid (10-CSA) with choline chloride (ChCl). Camphor-10-sulphonic acid choline chloride eutectic solvent (CSA-ChCl-ES) was used as a catalyst in the esterification reaction of an oil mixture consisting of acidic crude palm oil and sludge palm oil in order to reduce the free fatty acid (FFA) content to less than 2%. The optimal reaction conditions were as follows: 2.5 wt% of catalyst dosage, 10:1 molar ratio, 60°C of reaction temperature and 40 min of reaction time. This study revealed that the novel eutectic solvent possessed high catalytic activity and recyclability, hence highlighting its high potential for biodiesel production.

KEYWORDS:


* Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre (NANOCAT), Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: adeeb.hayyan@yahoo.com

** Universiti Malaya Centre for Ionic Liquids (UMCiL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

ǂ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sohar University, P.O. Box 44, Sohar P.C. 311, Sultanate of Oman.

ǂǂ Institute of Halal Research Universiti Malaya (IHRUM), Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.