Work

Characterization of carbon catalyst from palm kernel shell supported by cesium phosphotungstate for glycerol acetylation process

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The valorization of surplus glycerol from biodiesel production into higher-value chemicals is a promising route for enhancing process sustainability and economic feasibility. In this study, carbon-based catalysts derived from palm kernel shell were synthesized and functionalized with cesium phosphotungstate (CsPWA) to evaluate their performance in the acetylation of glycerol. Catalyst characterization confirmed the preservation of the Keggin structure and the stability of the active sites after synthesis. Among the tested catalysts, CsPWA30/C exhibited the highest performance, achieving 83.58% glycerol conversion under optimized conditions (110 °C, 2 h, glycerol to acetic acid molar ratio of 1:9, and 5 wt.% catalyst loading). The selectivity toward diacetin (67.31%) and triacetin (32.69%) demonstrated the catalyst’s ability to direct the reaction toward desirable acetylated products. The superior catalytic activity was attributed to the high surface acidity and stable structural framework of CsPWA, which facilitated effective reactant diffusion. These findings highlight the potential of CsPWA-supported carbon catalysts as cost-effective and environmentally friendly systems for biodiesel downstream processing, contributing to waste-to-value strategies and circular bioeconomy development.

Source: Chemical Physics Impact

DOI: 10.1016/j.chphi.2025.100997

Authors: Nur Hidayati, Nabilah Miftachul Jannah, Tri Widayatno, Malik Musthofa, Herry Purnama, Azzahra Ardya Kamaratih

Institution: Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta

Language: English

Topic: Catalysis for Biomass Conversion

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,520