Alpha-cellulose obtained from wood sawdust wastes in 29.0% yield was reacted with sulfuric acid to produce alpha-cellulose sulfate materials. These catalyst materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and specular reflectance-UV spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and laser scattering particle size distribution. The concentration of sulfate groups on the cellulosic matrix was determined by turbidimetry. The obtained alpha-cellulose sulfates can be used as efficient heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production from palm oil when evaluated with methylation of palmitic acid and oleic acid as the model reaction. The density of sulfate functional groups on the
alpha-cellulose sulfate materials was 2.18–16.74% wt/wt as determined by turbidimetry. Standardization of deployed alpha-cellulose sulfate catalysts was achieved using different ratios of alpha-cellulose and sulfate (1:0.5, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4 m/v). Additionally, the Bronsted acid sites on the alpha-cellulose sulfate catalyst play a pivotal role in the catalytic process.
