Center for Catalysis (CCAT) at Iowa State University is dedicated to the development

of useful, practical catalysts and sustainable green chemistry methods.

CCAT scientists investigate the application of catalysis and green chemistry methods to agricultural, industrial and

environmental science.

Center for Catalysis

Chemistry of Biodiesel

O

O

O

C

C

C

O

O

O

R

R

R

NaOH

3 CH3OH R C

O

O CH3 +

OH

OH

OH

R = C14 ~ C24 Hydrocarbon Chain Biodiesel

Transesterification

oil glycerol

New Catalysts Process

Renewable catalysts Eliminates catalyst from glycerin co-product Eliminates water washing

Current Catalyst Process vs. New Catalyst Process

Current Process

Uses Non renewable Catalyst Catalyst left in glycerin co-product Catalyst requires water washing

NeutralizationWater Wash

Reactor

Oil

Oil Soluble Catalyst

Methanol

Separation NeutralizationWater Wash

Renewable Catalysts

Oil

MethanolSeparation

Biodiesel• Goal: Convert soy oil into biodiesel and

convert byproducts of process into other value-added products, e.g., PDO, anti-freeze.

• Approach: Use mesoporous silica nanocatalysts to speed up the conversion process

• Agricultural Nanotechnology

SEM image of the mesoporous silica microsphere.

TEM image of cross-section showing hexagonal lattice units of porous framework.

USDA Value-Added Grant

RenewableCatalyst-Conversion of Glycerinto PDO

CrudeGlycerin

Crude Biodiesel

Renewable Catalysts

Methanol

Feedstock

Methanol Recovery

Separation

PDO – Used for:AdhesivesAntifreezeCompositesCarpets and textilesEngine coolantsPolyestersResinsSolventsUrethanesWater based inks

Methyl Ester Uses (currently marketed by West Central Soy)SoyPOWER biodieselSoyPOWER diesel additiveSoyPOWER methyl soyateBioSOY Hydraulic OilSoyTRUK Fifth Wheel GreaseSoyLINK Chain Bar LubricantGraffiti RemoverAsphalt Release ConcentrateSoyPLUS (dairy feed ingredient

MethanolRecovery

Biodiesel

MethanolRecovery

Recyclable Catalysts

No catalytic residual left in methyl ester or glycerin

Reduce energy consumption

Reduced construction costs

Enhance economic competitiveness

Reduce environmental impacts

Anticipated benefits of new catalysts

Scale-up Activities

• Successfully replicated bench-scale procedure to synthesize acid catalyst– Produced over 700 grams of mesoporous silica

material in batches that were more than 30 times larger than bench scale

Oil O

O

O

C

C

C

O

R1O

R2O

R3

OH

OH

OH

C

O

R'MeO+

R' = R1, R2, R3

MeOH

Base Catalyst

Fatty acid free OilEsterification by acid catalyst

Transesterification by base catalyst

R OH

OH+

MeOH R OMe

O

Free Fatty Acid Containing Feedstock Free Fatty Acid Containing Feedstock For Biodiesel Synthesis For Biodiesel Synthesis

Glycerol Biodiesel

BiodieselAnimal Fat orRestaurant Oil

Base catalyst destroyed by FFA’s (soap formation)

Soybean Biorefinery

Soybean oil

Catalyst

Biodiesel + glycerol

Value added products

Synthesis of PDO via Ionic HydrogenationSynthesis of PDO via Ionic Hydrogenation

Glycerol to PDO:

Triglyceride to Biodiesel and Glycerol:

Anticipated Economic Development Benefits

• Center for Catalysis, ISU – basic science which creates new commercial business opportunities– New base catalyst facility, West Central

– New acid catalyst facility, West Central

– New glycerin catalysis synthesis facility, West Central

• Excellent opportunity for Iowa Values Fund– Development that is located in rural area – benefits agricultural and

manufacturing sector

– Creates good, quality jobs