| Abstract: | In present work, the aim of producing biodiesel from waste cooking oil was pursued by doping the cerium element into the MCM‐41 framework as catalyst with various Si/Ce molar ratio (5, 10, 25, 50, and Ce = 0). The catalytic performance and stability improved by employing the ultrasound irradiation in active phase loading step of catalyst preparation. The physicochemical characteristics of synthesized samples were investigated using various techniques as follows: Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET), X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The XRD patterns along with the results of FTIR and BET analysis revealed the MCM‐41 framework destruction while increasing the Ce content. The FESEM images of the nanocatalysts illustrated a well distribution and uniform morphology for the Ca/CeM (Si/Ce = 25). The particle size and size distribution of the Ca/CeM (Si/Ce = 25) were subsequently determined by TEM and FESEM images. The activity of fabricated nanocatalysts was evaluated by measuring the free acid methyl ester (FAME) content of produced biodiesel. The tests were carried out at constant operational conditions: T = 60°C, catalyst loading = 5 wt%, methanol/oil molar ratio = 9, and 6‐hour reaction time. A superior activity was observed for Ca/CeM (Si/Ce = 25) among other nanocatalysts with 96.8% conversion of triglycerides to biodiesel. The mentioned sample was utilized in five reaction cycles, and at the end of the fifth cycle, the conversion reached to 91.5% which demonstrated its significant stability. |
