This
work
investigates
the
nanocatalytic
biodiesel
production
from
algae
(Nannochloropsis
sp.).
The
hydrothermal
synthesis
route
was
used
in
this
study
to
produce
nano
Ca(OCH3)2
(calcium
methoxide)
as
a
model
catalyst.
The
effect
of
the
main
reaction
parameters
i.e.
catalyst
dosage,
temperatures
under
constant
pressure,
methanol
molar
ratio
and
reaction
time
on
the
yield
of
FAME
(fatty
acid
methyl
ester)
were
examined.
Kinetic
study
of
biodiesel
synthesis
from
crude
microalgae
oil
using
nanocatalytic
transesterification
reaction
was
appraised.
The
results
indicate
that
CH3O− species
(a
cluster
of
tiny
plate-like
architectures)
in
Ca(OCH3)2 catalyst,
and
acted
as
main
active
sites
for
transesterification
process.
In
addi-
tional,
Ca(OCH3)2 catalyst
has
excellent
catalytic
performance
in
production
of
biodiesel.
The
highest
FAME
yield
of
99.0%
was
obtained
over
3
wt.%
of
Ca(OCH3)2 catalyst
loading
at
methanol
to
oil
molar
ratio
of
30:1
and
reaction
time
of
3
h
at
80 ◦C.
Moreover,
the
catalyst
displays
a
good
stability
and
reutilization.
A
satisfactory
FAME
yield
of
96%
was
achieved
after
use
for
five
consecutive
cycles
without
significant
deactivation.
The
activation
energy
(Ea)
of
the
transesterification
reaction
of
crude
Nannochloropsis
oculata
oil
with
methanol
over
Ca(OCH3)2 nanocatalyst
was
obtained
as
58.62
kJ
mol−1.
The
results
revealed
that
the
yield
of
methyl
esters
obtained
from
algae-based
triglycerides
was
follows
a
pseudo
first
order
mechanism
for
the
forward
reaction.
These
results
suggest
that
the
nanocatalyst
is
a
promising
for
a
green
biodiesel
production
process
from
algae.