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 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 Neutralization Water Wash Reactor Oil Oil Soluble Catalyst Methanol Separation Neutralization Water Wash Renewable Catalysts Oil Methanol Separation

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 Renewable Catalyst- Conversion of Glycerin to PDO Crude Glycerin Crude Biodiesel Renewable Catalysts Methanol Feedstock Methanol Recovery Separation PDO – Used for: Adhesives Antifreeze Composites Carpets and textiles Engine coolants Polyesters Resins Solvents Urethanes Water based inks Methyl Ester Uses (currently marketed by West Central Soy) SoyPOWER biodiesel SoyPOWER diesel additive SoyPOWER methyl soyate BioSOY Hydraulic Oil SoyTRUK Fifth Wheel Grease SoyLINK Chain Bar Lubricant Graffiti Remover Asphalt Release Concentrate SoyPLUS (dairy feed ingredient Methanol Recovery Biodiesel Methanol Recovery

 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 Fatty acid free Oil Esterification by acid catalyst Transesterification by base catalyst Free Fatty Acid Containing Feedstock For Biodiesel Synthesis GlycerolBiodiesel Animal Fat or Restaurant Oil Base catalyst destroyed by FFA’s (soap formation)

Soybean Biorefinery Soybean oil  Catalyst  Biodiesel + glycerol  Value added products

Synthesis 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