ZIRCONIUM-BASED CATALYST COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR USE FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

摘要

Novel catalysts for producing biodiesel fuels and blending agents for diesel fuels from biological material, and preparation and use of such catalysts are described. To form the catalysts a specified amount of hydrated zirconium sulfate or sulfated zirconia, or both, is impregnated onto particular types of high surface area, high pore volume catalyst support by one or multiple wet impregnations. After drying, the composition is calcined using progressively increasing temperatures at a controlled rate to a specified temperature and held there for a specified period of time. Alternatively, the foregoing procedure is conducted, except that hydrated zirconium sulfate and/or sulfated zirconia and the catalyst support are co-extruded instead of using wet impregnation. The catalysts can effectively convert plants, algae, waste cooking oils, fatty acid distillates, etc., into biodiesel fuel.