화학공학소재연구정보센터
Energy & Fuels, Vol.27, No.5, 2776-2782, 2013
Novel Nanoparticle-Assisted Room-Temperature Synthesis of Methyl Esters from Aloe vera Seed Oil
Aloe vera has been used as a cosmetic and medical remedy since ancient times and has gained increasing popularity in recent years. Despite its widespread use, reports on biodiesel from Aloe vera seeds are lacking. The present investigation reports the fatty acid composition of Aloe vera seed oil (AVSO) and addresses the feasibility of using AVSO as a source of biodiesel. A novel ecofriendly catalyst was developed using triacetin as a model. Interestingly, the room-temperature conversion of AVSO and other nonedible oils to methyl esters could be achieved using this novel catalytic system consisting of ethylene diamine in the presence of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs). The metal core, capping agent, and amine concomitantly contribute to make the system an effective catalyst.