Process optimization and kinetic studies for the production of biodiesel from Artocarpus heterophyllus oil using modified mixed quail waste catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel production from renewable resources is emerging as a future energy solution that is both environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The current study looks into the use of calcined mixed quail wastes, such as quail bones and egg shells, as novel heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production from Artocarpus heterophyllus oil. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the calcined MQW catalysts. Seed to solvent ratio of 1:10, temperature of 70 °C and extraction time of 180 min was observed to be optimal parameters for the extraction of oil from Artocarpus heterophyllus seeds. The extraction of oil from Artocarpus heterophyllus seeds was found to be maximum with a seed to solvent ratio of 1:10, a temperature of 70 °C, and an extraction time of 180 min. The physico-chemical properties of extraction oil were investigated. A maximum biodiesel yield of 64 % was attained with optimal process parameters - methanol to oil ratio of 6:1, catalyst concentration of 3.5 %, temperature of 55 °C and reaction time of 120 min. Kinetic studies of transesterification process revealed the pseudo-first order model as the best fitting model with an activation energy of 38.864 kJ/mol.