Chemical reactor analysis and design

The novel porous carbon based solid acid with microtube structure was presented via the facile carbonization and sulfonation of the harmful biomass willow catkin. The structure of the novel solid acid was characterized by FT-IR, SEM, TG and BET. The acidic properties of the solid acid could be easily adjusted from the carbonization or sulfonation conditions. The novel carbon based solid acid exhibited high activities for biodiesel synthesis from the frying cooking oils with total yield over 99%. Both the esterification of FFAs and transesterification of triglycerides were carried out simultaneously under mild conditions using the novel solid acid. The microtube structure provided the easily accessible acidic sites to bulky hydrophobic triglycerides molecules and separated polar by-product water from active sites. The facile synthetic process, microtube structure, high activity, stability and reusability made the novel solid acid one of the good choice for the biodiesel synthesis from waste oils.