Synthesis of zeolite-X from rice husk silica and aluminum metal as a catalyst for transesterification of palm oil

In this study,zeolite-x was synthesized from rice husk silica and aluminum metal as raw materials. the zeolite was then calcined at 550 ° c for 6 h and subsequently tested as a catalyst for transesterification of palm oil with methanol to produce biodiesel.transesterification experiments demonstrated that the zeolite produced exhibited good activity as a catalyst for conversion of palm oil into biodiesel,as reflected by the composition of the biodiesel according to gc-ms analysis,which are in accordance with the fatty acids contained in palm oil. the catalyst was characterized using xrd,ftir,and sem. the xrd revealed that zeolite-x synthesized has a faujasite phase,composing of crystallite shapes of cubic,rectangular,and irregular as seen by sem. the ftir analysis revealed the presence of functional groups associated with zeolite. © 2017,university of mohammed premier oujda morocco.