Solid Acid Catalysts for Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel belongs to the class of renewable and sustainable fuel sources receiving more attention as a rapidly growing field with higher potential than other energy sources. The main shortcoming of biodiesel production is the high cost of the production process and the catalytic system. The present contribution aims to briefly review and evaluate the performance of solid acid catalysts (SACs) focused on biodiesel production through esterification and transesterification. The review article gives insight into the prime catalytic characteristics that can be modified in an economical and eco-friendly way to reduce overall cost of fuel products on an industrial scale. The advantages and disadvantages of the used catalytic systems are discussed and compared with their catalytic activity and stability.