Esterification of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate Using a Sulfonated Mesoporous CuO‐ZnO Mixed Metal Oxide Catalyst

A nanocrystalline mesoporous CuO‐ZnO hollow sphere was successfully fabricated by the hydrothermal method. The nanocomposite was formed in the presence of polyethylene glycol as a dispersant and D‐glucose as a template. The mesoporous CuO‐ZnO catalyst was further functionalized with benzenesulfonic acid to catalyze the esterification of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD). The physicochemical, textural, structural, and thermal properties of the mesoporous CuO‐ZnO mixed‐oxide catalysts were evaluated. The modified mesoporous catalyst possessed unique textural properties. With a Cu/Zn atomic ratio of 1.0 the best catalytic activity through PFAD esterification was achieved. The optimum reaction conditions in terms of methanol/PFAD molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time were determined.