Activity of Potassium Antimony (III) Tartrate Hydrate K(SbO)C4H4O6.3H2O Derived Catalysts in Biodiesel Production by Transesterification

Potassium antimony (III) tartrate hydrate K(SbO)C
₄
H4O
₆
.3H
₂
O were calcined at different temperatures varying from 60 to 800°C and tested in the production of biodiesel by transtesterification of vegetable oil. The calcination process of the derived catalysts was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis (TG/DTG). The results obtained show that the best biodiesel yield was achieved with the tartrate precursor calcined at 500°C. The reaction is almost complete after three hours when using 3% of the catalyst, a methanol/oil ratio equal to 9/1, and 60°C as reaction temperature.