Abstract
In this study, the potential of LaPO4 foam as a heterogeneous catalyst to produce biodiesel from highly acidic waste cooking oil (WCO) was investigated. The LaPO4 supported nickel foam was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray mapping analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). In addition, the effect of different parameters such as the molar ratio of feedstock to methanol, contact time and the reaction temperature. Under the study conditions, with methanol to oil molar ratio of 5:1, and a reaction temperature of 90 °C, 91% FAME yield was obtained within 120 min with 2.5 wt % of LaPO4. The obtained results demonstrated that LaPO4 foam can be used effectively as a heterogeneous catalyst with superior catalytic efficiency (>90%) with easy separation and excellent stability.
•LaPO4 supported nicked foam was developed as a heterogeneous nanocatalyst.•The nanocatalyst was used to production of biodiesel waste cooking oil.•With a reaction temperature of 90 °C, 91% FAME yield was obtained within 120 min.•The LaPO4 foam can be easily separated from the reaction vessel.•The catalyst can be reused for five continuous catalytic cycles.