Application of green SC-CO2 oil extraction method with a new green catalyst from luffa fruit for biodiesel production from Persian Lilac-Melia Azedarach fruits

Abstract

Considering the importance of finding new suitable and environmentally friend resources and methods for biodiesel production, the present work has investigated Supercritical Carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction as a new highly efficient and green oil extraction method for oil production from Persian Lilac-Melia Azedarach (PLMA) fruits and its conversion into biodiesel using a new green catalyst. The effects of pressure (22–30 MPa), temperature (40–80 °C) and extraction time (0–240 min) on supercritical carbon dioxide extraction were investigated and the results were compared with ultrasonic probe and Soxhlet extraction methods. The findings indicated that the total oil production rose with higher pressure and temperature, but a decrease was noticed at elevated temperatures. The most effective parameters for extracting PLMA oil were determined to be a pressure of 30 MPa, a temperature of 40 °C, and an extraction time of 180 min. The oil yield obtained by SC-CO2 extraction method was 32 % while it was 30 % and 28 % for Ultrasonic probe and Soxhlet extraction methods, respectively. Finally, a new green catalyst was synthesized from sponge of luffa plant to convert the extracted oil into a green biodiesel. In the future outlook, the efficient oil extraction method including modified SC-CO2 will be proposed for oil extraction from Melia azedarach fruits and the using of the modified catalyst for converting the oil to biodiesel.