Advances in limitations and opportunities of clean biofuel production to promote decarbonization

Abstract

Factors such as higher fuel prices, limited and geologically posited fossil fuel resources along with the impact of fossil fuels on global warming are highly unsustainable for growing economies around the globe. For this reason, an unconventional sustainable energy root is desired. In recent years, biodiesel has gained much consideration because of its similar combustion properties like fossil fuels and its synthesis from edible and non-edible oils via a catalytic process. Various catalysts (homogeneous and heterogeneous in nature) have been investigated for sustainable and green production of biodiesel. The heterogeneous catalyst calcium oxide is an abundant, cheap and has a high activity for transesterification reaction. The review provides that there is strong need to focus on exploring the continuous heterogeneous nanoscale calcium oxide catalyst to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness biodiesel production technology. Calcium oxide catalytic activity can be improved by nanotechnology approach. This approach helps in the production of suitable catalyst at a low cost, minimizes the waste, and results in higher activity and selectivity for desired reaction. This study provides an overview on the literature existing on the preparation of nanosized-Calcium oxide (CaO), utilization for conversion of ester into biodiesel along, advantages over other heterogeneous catalysts and importance as a future catalyst for the production of biodiesel.