Using discarded oyster shells to obtain biodiesel

Abstract

Biodiesel production was studied through the transesterification of used edible vegetable oil, using a calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst derived from Crassostrea Virginica oyster shells. Which were calcined at 900 ° C for 2 hours and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The efficiency of conversion to methyl esters was evaluated using 2%, 3% and 4% of catalyst and they were analyzed by 1H NMR. The results showing that concentrations greater than 2% of CaO generate biodiesel conversions greater than 90%.