Transesterification of waste oil to biodiesel using Brønsted acid ionic liquid as catalyst

  • S. Liu
  • Z. Wang
  • S. Yu
  • C. Xie
Keywords: Biodiesel, Ionic liquid, Waste oil, Catalysis


Brønsted acid ionic liquids were employed for the preparation of biodiesel using waste oil as the feedstock. It was found that IL 1–(3–sulfonic acid)propyl–3–methylimidazole hydrosulfate–[HO3S-pmim]HSO4 was an efficient catalyst for the reaction under the optimum conditions: n(oil):n(methanol) 1:12, waste oil 15.0 g, ionic liquid 2.0 g, reaction temperature 120 oC and reaction time 8 h, the yield of biodiesel was more than 96%. The reusability of the ionic liquid was also investigated. When the ionic liquid was repeatedly used for five times, the yield of product was still more than 93%. Therefore, an efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst was provided for the synthesis of biodiesel from waste oils.


KEY WORDS: Biodiesel, Ionic liquid, Waste oil, Catalysis


Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2013, 27(2), 289-294.



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