KINETIC AND STABILITY OF ZEOLITES CATALYST IN THE TRANSESTERIFICATION OF PALM KERNEL SEED OIL

ABSTRACT This study investigates the kinetics and stability of zeolite catalysts in the transesterification of palm kernel seed oil (PKO) for biodiesel production. Zeolites, known for their high surface area, acidity, and structural stability, are evaluated as potential heterogeneous catalysts to enhance biodiesel yields through an environmentally sustainable process. The process was carried out successfully using various Laboratory equipments such as thr NDJ-5S Viscometer, SVM 3000 50milliliter Pycnometer (Density Bottles), HJ-3D Constant Temperature Water bath, e.t.c with methods, some of which are; Beneficiation of Silica and Alumina Samples, alongside Synthesis of Zeolite, then the Esterification and Transesterification Reaction, which was later characterised by the Acid Value Determination (ASTM D 664) Characterization method, Peroxide Value, moisture Content, Flash Point Determination (ASTM D 93), and Viscosity Determination (ASTM D 445), and was further ran through the Kinetics of Biodiesel Production. The amount of FFA in the palm kernel seed oil was found to be 5.78%. The quantification of mineral constituents of zeolite revealed that it was 73% quartz, 9% muscovite and 19% albite. The activation energy for the reaction was calculated to be 45.8 kJ/mol. Kinetic studies indicated that the transesterification reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with an optimal temperature of 60°C and a methanol-to-oil ratio of 9:1 yielding the highest biodiesel conversion. The experimental results showed that temperature was a critical factor in the transesterification process' efficiency with overall rate of product formation increasing with increase in temperature from 0.0117min-1 at 30℃ to 0.0333 min-1 at 60℃. The results 4.01 mPa.s for the dynamic viscosity and 0.264% of FFA were within the standard range of