Dolomite as a heterogeneous catalyst for transesterification of canola oil

In this study, the catalytic activity of dolomite was evaluated for the transesterification of canola oil with methanol to biodiesel in a heterogeneous system. The influence of the calcination temperature of the catalyst and the reaction variables such as the temperature, catalyst amount, methanol/canola oil molar ratio, and time in biodiesel production were investigated. The maximum activity was obtained with the catalyst calcined at 850 °C. When the reaction was carried out at reflux of methanol, with a 6:1 molar ratio of methanol to canola oil and a catalyst amount of 3 wt.% the highest FAME yield of 91.78% was obtained after 3 h of reaction time.