Graphite oxide-supported CaO catalysts for transesterification of soybean oil with methanol

Graphite oxide (GO) supported CaO catalyst was prepared and successfully applied to the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol to produce biodiesel. The experimental results demonstrated that the GO supported CaO catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity and can be easily regenerated. The oxygen-containing groups (i.e., hydroxyl, epoxide groups and carboxyl groups) on the surface of GO support act as effective anchoring centers for the active phase. [Display omitted] ► Graphite oxide (GO) supported CaO catalyst was prepared. ► The catalyst was applied to the transesterification reaction to produce biodiesel. ► The catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity and easily to be regenerated. ► There are a large amount of oxygen-containing groups on the surface of GO. ► The oxygen-containing groups act as anchoring centers for the active phase. Graphite oxide (GO) supported CaO catalysts were prepared and successfully applied to the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol. The supports and resultant catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption, thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programed desorption (TPD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The GO supported CaO catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic activity and were easily regenerated by simple heat-treatment. The oxygen-containing groups (i.e., hydroxyl, epoxide groups and carboxyl groups) present on the surface of GO likely act as anchoring centers for CaO. This work demonstrates that graphite oxide is an effective host material of catalytically active CaO nanoparticles for the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol to produce biodiesel.