Synthesis of Bio-based oxides nano-composites catalyst from croton macrostachyus leaves for biodiesel production from croton macrostachyus seed oil

Abstract

This study explored the prospective of croton macrostachyus leaves as bio-based minerals rich resource found for metal oxides nano-catalyst synthesis by sol–gel-thermal oxidation method and the seeds as a future lipid-rich non edible resource used for synthesis of biodiesel by ultrasound-supported transeserification process. The prepared catalyst was characterized by diverse analytical practice such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), and Brunauer emmett teller (BET) analysis. The metal oxides nano-catalyst demonstrated very strong basic sites with surface area (126.3 m2/g), and particle size (23.8 nm) which extensively reduced the diffusion resistance of triglycerides. EDX analysis indicated the presence of Ca-Fe-K-P-Al-Si/C oxides composites was used as nano-catalyst. Maximum yield of 98.85 ± 0.99 wt% achieved with1.23 wt% catalyst, 1:9.13 M ratio of oil to methanol, 36.4085 (round of 36) min reaction period at 50 KHz and 55.48 °C.The oil fatty acid profile and biodiesel were characterized by gas chromatography (GC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, the energy specification of croton macrostachyus biodiesel were analysed and contrasted with ASTM D6751 standard. Nano-catalyst strong basic site enhances the efficiency of biodiesel production.