Cs promoted triglyceride transesterification over MgO nanocatalysts

Janine M. Montero, Karen Wilson, Adam F. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The influence of Cs on the structure and basicity of nanocrystalline MgO was assessed via electron microscopy, CO2 chemisorption, XRD and XPS. Caesium incorporation via co-precipitation under supercritical conditions generates Cs2Mg(CO3)2 nanocrystallites with an enhanced density and strength of surface base sites. Wet impregnation proved less effective for modifying MgO nanocrystals. A strong synergy between Cs and Mg components in the co-precipitated material dramatically enhanced the rate of tributyrin transesterification with methanol relative to undoped MgO and homogeneous Cs2CO3 catalysts. On-stream deactivation of Cs-doped MgO reflects heavy surface carbon deposition and loss of the high activity Cs2Mg(CO3)2 phase due to limited Cs dissolution.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)737-745
Number of pages9
JournalTopics in Catalysis
Volume53
Issue number11-12
Early online date26 Mar 2010
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2010

Keywords

  • Alkali metal-doping
  • basicity
  • biodiesel
  • catalysis
  • nanocrystalline MgO
  • transesterification

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