Lincolnland Agri-Energy researcher uses pumice for biodiesel production process

January 25, 2022 |

In Spain, Canarias 7 reports a researcher at the University of La Laguna (ULL) has invented a utility model on a catalyst to produce biodiesel, which has been accredited by the Patent and Trademark Office and in which pumice, a volcanic material, is used as a support. abundant and inexpensive.

The invention refers specifically to the chemical modification of pumice (aluminosilicate) with an alkali metal (lithium), and its use as a heterogeneous catalyst to carry out the transesterification reaction: reaction already started by the mixture of reagents, but being so slow requires a catalyst for reasons of economy.

It is used for oils of various kinds (clean vegetable oils, used frying oils, as well as oils from energy crops -non-edible-), such as oils from the seeds of Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata, among others, in order to produce fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel).

Category: Research

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