Aqueous miscible organic layered double hydroxides as catalyst precursors for biodiesel synthesis

Abstract

Potassium salt prepared AMO-Mg_xAl-LDH(K) (x = 2–5) have been studied as catalyst precursors for biodiesel synthesis. Calcined potassium salt prepared [AMO-Mg_0.75Al_0.25(OH)₂](CO₃)_0.17K_0.01 {AMO-Mg₃Al-LDH(K)} with high surface area (366.1 m² g⁻¹) and Lewis basicity density (2.87 μmol m⁻²) catalyses the transesterification of sunflower oil with methanol to yield fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) after 300 minutes (99%), a much higher performance than conventional LDHs.