Biodiesel synthesis from mixed non-edible oil feedstock using K2CO3 in NH4OH Catalyst mixture

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the present study, a new approach has tried to synthesize and optimize biodiesel production from mixed oils (Pongamia and Mahua) using an in-situ generated KOH from K2CO3 in an NH4OH catalyst mixture using response surface methodology (RSM). A maximum biodiesel yield of 96.5 v/v% was obtained at a catalyst concentration (CC) of 1.5 g K2CO3 in 0.75 g of NH4OH, oil to methanol molar ratio (M:O) of 7:1 at a reaction temperature (RT) of 55°C in 75 min reaction time (Rt). The obtained biodiesel yield is compared and found to be maximum (96.5 v/v%) for K2CO3 in NH4OH catalyst mixture than K2CO3 in H2O, direct K2CO3 and Conventional KOH methods. Furthermore, the presence of carbonate and ammonium ions in the reaction medium resulted in an increased biodiesel yield due to the less possibility for free water molecules formation and with a minimal amount of KOH to drive the reaction toward the right-hand side. The GC-MS, 1HNMR and FTIR techniques were used to confirm the conversion of esters.