| Summary: | A novel magnetic catalyst with hollow cylinder shape based on K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>/γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Sepiolite/CoFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> was prepared to convert macroalgae oil (<i>Fucus vesiculosus</i>) into biodiesel in an unconventional reactor assisted by magnetic field. Catalysts were formulated by the extrusion and characterized satisfactorily by physicochemical (mechanical strength, XRD, TG/DTG, FTIR and TPD-CO<sub>2</sub>), magnetic (VSM and EPR), morphological (SEM) and textural properties (BET). While their catalytic performance was also evaluated at 70 °C, oil: ethanol molar ratio 1:12 and 6 wt.% of catalyst using two different reaction systems for comparative purposes: (a) conventional stirred reactor and (b) fluidized bed reactor assisted by a magnetic field. The attained biodiesel presents properties in accordance with the standard limits (ASTM and EN) and total conversion (>99%) was observed in both cases after 2 h of reaction without significant differences between the two reactors. However, the magnetic properties of these catalysts allowed stabilization of the bed under a magnetic field and easy magnetic catalyst separation/recovery at the reaction end, showing their great potential for biodiesel production with regard to conventional process and thus, transforming it into a more sustainable technology.
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