Thesis (M.Eng.)--Chulalongkorn University, 2006

In this study, transesterification of palm olein using Calcium oxide, Calcium carbonate, Magnesium oxide, Magnesium carbonate, Potassium carbonate and Sodium carbonate as heterogeneous catalysts was investigated. The experiments were conducted in batch system at atmospheric pressure and temperature of 62 degrees celsius. The amount of catalyst used 5% and 10% by weight of oil. Excess methanol of 2 and 5 times the stoichiometric ratio were used. The reaction time was 18 hours for every experiment. Comparisons of methyl esters production between heterogeneous catalysts and homogeneous catalysts (Potassium hydroxide and Sodium hydroxide) were also investigate. The results show that homogeneous catalysts are more active than heterogeneous catalysts. The most active of these heterogeneous catalysts was Calcium oxide. Magnesium oxide and Magnesium carbonate show approximately equal activity. Calcium carbonate is the least active catalyst. Potassium carbonate and Sodium carbonate are soluble in the mixtures so they can not be classified as heterogeneous catalyst. Increasing the amount of heterogeneous catalyst from 5% to 10% by weight of oil and increasing excess methanol from 2 to 5 times the stoichiomtric ratio result in the increased percentages of methyl esters production.