Colloid &  Nanoscience  Journal

Colloid & Nanoscience Journal

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of nanoporous HZSM-5 (Na14.88Al15.26Si32.74O96) and lanthanum and vanadium ion exchange HZSM-5 for biodiesel production via transesterification of canola oil

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of Physical Chemistry and Nanochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Alzahra University, Tehran, 19938-93973, Iran
Abstract
In this study, nanocrystalline HZSM-5 (Na14.88Al15.26Si32.74O96) was successfully synthesized in high yield within 24 h using a seed-assisted, template-free, and ultrasonic-assisted method. The optimal pH for HZSM-5 synthesis was determined to be 12.5. Furthermore, the synthesized HZSM-5 zeolite (Z2S4) was modified with lanthanum(III) nitrate and vanadium(III) chloride to produce the xLa/Z2S4 and xV-yLa/Z2S4 catalysts through La3+ and V3+ ion exchange with H+. The xLa/Z2S4 was applied for transesterification of canola oil for biodiesel production. The molecular weight and consequently the fatty acid compositions of the canola oil were determined using GC-mass analysis. The effect of different parameters on conversion% of canola oil, including La content, zeolite calcination temperature, transesterification temperature, catalyst wt%, methanol-to-oil mass ratio, and reaction time were studied. The optimal La content was determined to be 5 wt%, and the corresponding catalyst was designated as 5La/Z2S4.

The 5La/ZSM-5 exhibited considerable catalytic activity in transesterification of canola oil compared with the parent HZSM-5 zeolite. The catalytic activity of 5La/Z2S4 can be improved by increasing its acidity and specific surface area. The transesterification process achieved a conversion% of 100% using 5La/Z2S4 catalyst calcined at 550 ℃, under the following conditions: methanol-to-oil mass ratio of 15:1, reaction temperature of 85 ℃, reaction time of 7 h, and catalyst loading percent of 20 wt %. The results show, that addition of vanadium to 5La/Z2S4 to form a bi-metallic catalyst 0.8V-5La/Z2S4, promoted the catalytic activity in biodiesel production compared to the other synthesized catalysts including 5Ni/Z2S4, 5Cu/Z2S4, 5Co/Z2S4, and 5Cr/Z2S4.

Graphical Abstract

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of nanoporous HZSM-5 (Na14.88Al15.26Si32.74O96) and lanthanum and vanadium ion exchange HZSM-5 for biodiesel production via transesterification of canola oil
Keywords

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Volume 3, Issue 3
Autumn 2025
Pages 707-726

  • Receive Date 10 December 2025
  • Accept Date 27 January 2026