Synthesis of zinc aluminate with high surface area by microwave hydrothermal method applied in the transesterification of soybean oil (biodiesel)

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2015.10.027· OSTI ID:22581415

Quirino, M. R. ^[1]; Oliveira, M. J.C. ^[2]; Keyson, D. ^[3]; Oliveira, J. B.L. ^[4]; Gama, L. ^[2]

---

1. Chemistry Laboratory of Federal University of Paraiba (LABQUIM), Campus III, 58200-000 Bananeiras, PB (Brazil)
2. Academic Unit of Materials Engineering, UFCG, Campina Grande Campus I, 58429-900 Campina Grande, PB (Brazil)
3. Laboratory of study in Science, DME, Federal University of Paraíba, Campus I, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB (Brazil)
4. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Campus I, 59078-970 Natal, RN (Brazil)

Highlights: • ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinel was synthesized by the microwave hydrothermal method in only 15 or 30 min. • The powders show high specific surface area. • ZAT{sub b}15 showed activity of 52.22% for the conversion of soybean oil into biodiesel. - Abstract: Zinc aluminate is a material with high thermal stability and high mechanical strength that, owing to these properties, is used as a catalyst or support. In this work, zinc aluminate spinel was synthesized by the microwave hydrothermal method in only 15 or 30 min at a low temperature (150 °C) without templates, using only Al(NO{sub 3}){sub 3}·9H{sub 2}O, Zn(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O, and urea as precursors and applied in the transesterification of soybean oil. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} had a cubic structure without secondary phases. The nitrogen adsorption measurements (BET) revealed a high surface area (266.57 m{sup 2} g{sup −1}) for the nanopowder synthesized in 15 min. This powder showed activity of 52.22% for the catalytic conversion of soybean oil into biodiesel by transesterification.

• OSTI ID: 22581415
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 74; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADSORPTION
ALUMINATES
ALUMINIUM NITRATES
BIODIESEL FUELS
CERAMICS
CUBIC LATTICES
ESTERIFICATION
HYDRATES
HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NANOSTRUCTURES
NITROGEN OXIDES
PHASE STABILITY
POWDERS
SOYBEAN OIL
SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ZINC NITRATES