Fabrication and evaluation of diatomite supported by ferric and magnesium layered double hydroxides for efficient production of biodiesel

Heterogeneous catalysts are an important component in biofuel production systems due to their advantages over the homogeneous types. Diatomite-magnesium/aluminum layered double hydroxide and diatomite-ferric/aluminum layered double hydroxide fabricated throughout co-precipitating routine at alkaline medium. The prepared catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffractogram, and BET isotherm to determine the textural characteristics. The catalysts were evaluated during the transesterification of waste cooking oil to produce biodiesel. Limitations that impact this conversion are process duration, catalyst concentration, and oil to methanol percent were determined to achieve the optimum conditions of maximum conversion ratio. The features of the attained biodiesel were measured and a comparison was made with international criteria. The results showed that diatomite-ferric/aluminum layered double hydroxide has higher activity than the diatomite-magnesium/aluminum layered double hydroxide composite, owing to the higher activity of Fe3+ ions in the catalyst framework.