Jute leaves ash@Fe3O4 as efficient nanocatalyst for sustainable biodiesel production: Characterization, optimization and kinetic investigation

Abstract

A magnetically separable heterogeneous basic jute leaves ash@Fe3O4 nanocatalyst was utilized for biodiesel synthesis from jatropha and soybean oil. The magnetic catalyst was synthesized via calcination process followed by co-precipitation method. The XRD(X-ray diffraction) and FTIR(Fourier transform infrared) analysis confirmed the existence of magnetic Fe3O4, various metal oxides and carbonates in the catalyst. The jute leaves ash@Fe3O4 nanocatalyst was found in quasi spherical and core/shell structured in nature with average particle size of 15.66 nm. The XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectrometer) and EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray) elemental analysis showed the high content of calcium (21.5%) and potassium (4.8%) which makes the catalyst extremely basic in nature. The calculated basicity and surface area of the catalyst was 0.609 mmol g−1 and 85.5 m2 g−1 respectively and the reaction exhibits activation energy of 34.75 kJ mol−1. The VSM(Vibrating sample magnetometer) analysis recorded the magnetic saturation of uncalcined ash and calcined ash loaded magnetic catalyst as 17.32 and 12.56 emu g−1. The synthesized basic nanocatalyst furnishes maximum 98.1 ± 1.27% biodiesel yield after 60 ± 2 min with the catalyst load and methanol to oil ratio of 6 wt% and 9:1 at 60 °C. The magnetic catalyst was effectively employed in three consecutive cycles with promising catalyst stability and reactivity toward transesterification.