Oil Molar Ratio Research Articles

Utilization of Nile tilapia viscera oil and lipase as a novel and potential feedstock and catalyst for sustainable biodiesel production

The viscera of Nile tilapia, fish processing industry waste, was utilized to extract oil and lipase and used as a low-cost feedstock and catalyst, respectively, for producing biodiesel. The investigation aimed to improve the process of extracting oil from Nile tilapia viscera (NTVO) by a wet rendering method, and to use it for manufacturing biodiesel using Nile tilapia viscera lipase (NTVL)-based catalyst. Heating Nile tilapia viscera waste at 80 °C for 60 min was the best condition for oil separation, with 51.49 % oil recovery and 6.30 % yield. NTVO characteristics suggested the suitability for biodiesel production. Optimizing the synthesis of biodiesel from NTVO utilizing NTVL catalyst was also studied. The catalyst dose of 20 kUnits, reaction temperature of 35 °C, water content of 1 %, reaction period of 18 h, and methanol to oil molar ratio of 4:1 were found to provide the greatest biodiesel yield (96.9 %) (p < 0.05). ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed the conversion of NTVO to biodiesel. The physicochemical properties of biodiesel obtained met the requirement specified by international standards, namely EN 14214 and ASTM D 6751. These findings highlighted the potential of NTVO and NTVL as a substrate and catalyst for biodiesel synthesis, which might alleviate environmental pollution and disposal issues.

ANALISIS SIFAT FISIKA DAN SIFAT KIMIA GEL BIODIESEL DARI MINYAK BIJI PALEM PUTRI (Adonidia merrillii)

Biodiesel is an alkyl ester of long-chain fatty acids, the most common of which are methyl esters or ethyl esters. The manufacturing process involves esterification and transesterification. Traditional sources of biodiesel raw materials such as palm oil, soybeans, and jatropha have been widely studied. The princess palm, widely known as an ornamental plant, produces fruit containing seeds with quite high oil potential. This research aims to produce biodiesel and determine the physical and chemical properties from putri palm seeds. This research is experimental research with a quantitative descriptive approach. Putri palm seed oil is extracted using the soxhletation method with n-hexane solvent. The oil was then esterified using methanol with a catalyst of 1% sulfuric acid with a mole ratio of oil and methanol of 1:8 at a temperature of 60°C for 3 hours. The esterified oil is then transesterified using methanol and KOH with a methanol to oil ratio of 1:20 with KOH of 0.8% for 2 hours at a temperature of 60°C. This research has succeeded in making biodiesel from putri palm seeds. The biodiesel produced is in the form of a gel referred to as biodiesel gel with a yellowish brown color with a density of 1,236 gr/ml and a pour point of 36-38°C. The FFA/ALB value is 0.587%, the acid number is 1.177 mg KOH/g, the IOD number is 34.514 (g-I2/100 g), the saponification number is 63.19 mg KOH/g, the heating value is 48.088 MJ/Kg, and the cetane number 38,620. The IOD number, saponification number, and heating value meet the SNI standards for liquid biodiesel in general, while the cetane number and ALB value are close to SNI standards.

Transesterifikasi In Situ Minyak Biji Pepaya Menggunakan Ko-pelarut Tetrahidrofuran: Pengaruh Waktu Reaksi dan Penggunaan Katalis Natrium Hidroksida

The papaya seed oil is a non-food oil that can be used as raw material for biodiesel. The transesterification process using oil as raw material requires long process stages so it is not efficient. In situ transesterification with a co-solvent is an alternative to overcome this problem. This research aims to obtain optimum conditions for the in situ transesterification reaction of papaya seed oil with THF co-solvent. The research operating conditions included stirring speed 450 rpm, reaction at room temperature, oil:methanol molar ratio = 1:101.39, catalyst:oil molar ratio = 0.5:1, oil:THF molar ratio = 1: 67.85, reaction time are 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28 minutes and reactions with and without a NaOH catalyst. The best research conditions were obtained in the in situ transesterification reaction of papaya seed oil with THF co-solvent using a NaOH catalyst at a reaction time of 33 minutes, producing a crude yield of 74.38% and methyl esters concentration of 98,036.4 ppm and physical properties of biodiesel that met SNI 7182-2015, namely density 0.89 g/mL and acid number 0.44 mg KOH/g sample.

Investigation into the Fuel Characteristics of Biodiesel Synthesized through the Transesterification of Palm Oil Using a TiO2/CH3ONa Nanocatalyst

Biodiesel is a renewable and sustainable alternative fuel to petrol-derived diesel. Decreasing the operating costs by improving the catalyst’s characteristics is an effective way to increase the competitiveness of biodiesel in the fuel market. An aqueous solution of sodium methoxide (CH3ONa), which is a traditional alkaline catalyst, was immersed in nanometer-sized particles of titanium dioxide (TiO2) powder to prepare the strong alkaline catalyst TiO2/CH3ONa. The immersion method was used to enhance the transesterification reaction. The mixture of TiO2 and CH3ONa was calcined in a high-temperature furnace in a range between 150 and 450 °C continuously for 4 h. The heterogeneous alkaline catalyst TiO2/CH3ONa was then used to catalyze the strong alkaline transesterification reaction of palm oil with methanol. The highest content of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), which amounted to 95.9%, was produced when the molar ratio of methanol to palm oil was equal to 6, and 3 wt.% TiO2/CH3ONa was used, based on the weight of the palm oil. The FAMEs produced from the above conditions were also found to have the lowest kinematic viscosity of 4.17 mm2/s, an acid value of 0.32 mg KOH/g oil, and a water content of 0.031 wt.%, as well as the highest heating value of 40.02 MJ/kg and cetane index of 50.05. The lower catalyst amount of 1 wt.%, in contrast, resulted in the lowest cetane index of 49.31. The highest distillation temperature of 355 °C was found when 3 wt.% of the catalyst was added to the reactant mixture with a methanol/palm oil molar ratio of 6. The prepared catalyst is considered effective for improving the fuel characteristics of biodiesel.

CCD-RSM optimization of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using Angulyagra oxytropis and Bellamya crassa snail shell-based heterogeneous catalysts

In the present study, labuk tharoi (Angulyagra oxytropis), and ningkhabi tharoi (Bellamya crassa) were utilized to produce CaO catalyst for biodiesel production using waste cooking oil (WCO). The snail shells were calcined at a temperature of 800−1000℃ for 4 h and characterized using XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM, and EDX analysis. Central composite design-response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) was employed, and the input parameters considered for optimization were (i) catalyst calcination temperature (800−1000℃), (ii) methanol: oil ratio (molar) (6:1−12:1), (iii) catalyst loading (3−7 wt.%), and (iv) reaction temperature (55−75℃). A quadratic regression model was aliased by CCD-RSM with R2 values of 0.9291 and 0.976 for waste cooking oil methyl ester-labuk tharoi (WCOME-LT), and waste cooking oil methyl ester-ningkhabi tharoi (WCOME-NT) models indicating a good fit. An optimum biodiesel yield of (95.87, 95.91 %) was obtained at catalyst calcination temperature (891, 886℃), methanol to oil molar ratio (9.89:1, 9.67:1), catalyst loading weight % (7, 7 wt.%), and reaction temperature (75, 75℃) for WCOME-LT and WCOME-NT model respectively. The calcination temperature has a major impact on the biodiesel yield as per analysis of variance. The catalyst reusability was up to four cycles with a biodiesel yield of more than 83 %.

Direct application of tungstosilicic acid hydrate for the treatment of high free fatty acid in acidic crude palm oil and for biodiesel production

AbstractThis study explored the use of industrial acidic crude palm oil (ACPO) for biodiesel production, facing a significant obstacle due to its high free fatty acid (FFA) content, which complicates the biodiesel production process. Typically, esterification is employed to convert FFAs into fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). Herein, the effectiveness of tungstosilicic acid hydrate (TSAH) as an unsupported heteropoly acid (HPA) catalyst for FFA esterification in ACPO was investigated. The FFA content was reduced from 8.43% to 0.95% under optimum conditions (4 wt% catalyst dosage, a methanol to oil molar ratio of 10:1, 150 min and a temperature of 60°C). Noteworthy, the TSAH catalyst showed stability over 7 cycles. The kinetic analysis revealed that the FFA esterification process closely followed pseudo first‐order kinetics, with an R2 value of 0.94. Furthermore, the biodiesel produced from TSAH‐treated ACPO meets the standard specifications outlined by ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. This research highlights the effectiveness of TSAH in catalyzing FFA esterification without the need for additional support materials or modifications.

Electrolysis combined with magnetic CeO2/ZSM-5@Fe3O4 catalyst to boost transesterification for biodiesel production

The current transesterification for biodiesel is normally conducted with heat input and the resource is required to remove the contained water, which is complicated and costly. The novel magnetic catalyst of the bimetallic oxides of CeO2 and Fe3O4 supported on the hierarchical pore ZSM-5 was prepared and used for the biodiesel production through transesterification of palm oil with methanol under the electrolytic assistance. The prepared catalysts were characterized by SEM-EDS, TEM, FTIR, XRD, CO2/NH3-TPD, N2 adsorption–desorption and VSM, etc. The loaded cerium stimulated the particles growth and abundant catalytic active sites were obtained due to the coral-like structure and they were beneficial for transesterification. The presence of both acidic and basic sites guaranteed the strong catalytic capability of the CeO2/ZSM-5@Fe3O4 catalyst. Under the optimized transesterification condition of the catalyst dosage of 3 wt%, methanol to oil molar ratio of 18:1, reaction time of 2.5 h, electrolysis voltage of 40 V, presence of 2 % wt/wt of water added and reaction temperature of 25 ℃, the FAME yield of approximately 95 % was achieved. Also, the catalyst showed an acceptable reusability, where the FAME yield of 79 % was obtained after fourth reused cycle. In conclusion, the water in the resource promotes the electrolytic transesterification to occur efficiently at the room temperature.

Artificial neural network framework for the selection of deep eutectic solvents promoted enhanced oil recovery by interfacial tension reduction mechanism

Estimation of interfacial tension (IFT) and % reduction in IFT of Brazil and China regions’ heavy crude oil is employed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) led frameworks. The uniqueness of proposed approach lies in using AI frameworks that are constructed using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and meta-heuristic algorithms i.e. Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) forms three AI frameworks namely ANN, ANN-GA, and ANN-GWO is employed for IFT estimation of heavy oil and deep eutectic solvent-brine interface. The hyper-parameters of the frameworks are trained, validated, and tested over 18228 IFT data points obtained from the Omani heavy crude oil. The intermolecular interactions between oil, brine, and DES are obtained by generating surface segments in COnductor like Screening MOdel for Real Solvent (COSMO-RS) framework. The composition of brine, mole ratio of oil, DES, and temperature are other input parameters for AI model. The IFT estimation leads to the selection of 3 hydrophilic DESs capable of greater than 75 % IFT reduction and 14 hydrophilic DESs capable of 50–75 % IFT reduction. ANN-GWO scores best AI framework among 3 whereas ANN-GA fails to estimate IFT reduction greater than 50 %. Analysis of IFT with respect to mole fraction reveals the most suitable range of DES addition for IFT reduction.

Unlocking the potential of novel ternary non-edible seed oil biodiesel: impact on diesel engine knock intensity, performance, combustion, and emissions

The escalating demand for sustainable energy sources amid dwindling fossil fuel reserves prompts an exploration into innovative biodiesel alternatives for automotive applications. This study investigates a unique ternary mixture comprising non-edible seed oils from Azadirachta indica (Neem), Argemone mexicana (Satyanashi), and Melia azedarach (Bakayan) for biodiesel production and its potential as an alternative to conventional diesel. The ternary blend, extracted using a mechanical oil press, achieved a raw oil yield of 32%. Optimising process parameters, including a 93% biodiesel yield, was attained with a methanol to oil molar ratio of 6:1, 0.6% NaOH by weight, and a temperature of 60°C for 60 min. Performance testing of blends in a computerised single-cylinder, 4-stroke CI engine revealed notable improvements in brake thermal efficiency, with the B80 blend demonstrating the most significant reduction in brake-specific fuel consumption by 8.5%. The B100 blend exhibited the highest brake thermal efficiency at 37.6%. Emission analyses demonstrated reductions in CO and CO2 emissions, with the NOx reduction percentages varying for different blends. Notably, all blends exhibited comparable in-cylinder pressure and ignition delays with diesel, indicating the potential of the ternary seed oil mixture biodiesel as a viable diesel fuel substitute in CI engines.

Psidium guajava (guava) leaves derived functional activated carbon as a heterogeneous catalyst for conversion of Jatropha curcas oil to biodiesel

Herein, we report the development of a highly efficient activated porous acid catalyst using Psidium guajava (guava) leaves as the precursor. The synthesis involved chemical activation with ZnCl2 and sulfonation with 4-benzenediazonium sulfonate, resulting in the AC-X-PhSO3H catalyst, optimized by varying ZnCl2 ratios (X = 1, 2, 3). Comparative characterization using BET, SEM, XRD, FT-IR, and TGA revealed that AC-2-PhSO3H, pyrolyzed at 500 °C, exhibited exceptional efficiency with a maximum surface area of 492.97 m²/g and a sulfur density of 4.23 wt%. Using AC-2-PhSO3H as the catalyst, we achieved a remarkable Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) conversion (98.3 ± 0.3 %) to biodiesel under optimized reaction conditions (20:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 10 wt% catalyst loading, 100 °C, 50 min) and FAME content of 98.04 %, as confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The estimated cost of biodiesel production was $0.87 per litre, largely due to the notable reusability of the catalyst (82.9 ± 0.2 % JCO conversion in the 6th run) without additional treatments, indicating significant commercial applicability and enhanced stability.

Artificial Neural Network and Response Surface Methodology for Predicting and Maximizing Biodiesel Production from Waste Oil with KI/CaO/Al2O3 Catalyst in a Fixed Bed Reactor.

Biodiesel from waste oil is produced using heterogeneous catalyzed transesterification in a fixed bed reactor (FBR). Potassium iodide/calcium oxide/alumina (KI/CaO/Al2O3) catalyst was prepared through the processes of calcination and impregnation. The novel catalyst was analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The design of experiment (DoE) method resulted in a total of 20 experimental runs. The significance of 3 reaction parameters, namely catalyst bed height, methanol to waste oil molar ratio, and residence time, and their combined impact on biodiesel yield is investigated. Both the artificial neural network (ANN) based on artificial intelligence (AI) and the Box-Behnken design (BBD) based on response surface methodology (RSM) were utilized in order to optimize the process conditions and maximize the biodiesel production. A quadratic regression model was developed to predict biodiesel yield, with a correlation coefficient (R) value of 0.9994 for ANN model and a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.9986 for BBD model. The maximum amount of biodiesel that can be produced is 98.88 % when catalyst bed height is 7.87 cm, molar ratio of methanol to waste oil is 17.47 : 1, and residence time is 3.12 h. The results of this study indicate that ANN and BBD models can effectively be used to optimize and synthesize the highest %yield of biodiesel in a FBR.

[formula omitted] -catalyzed trans-esterification of brassica carinata seed oil for biodiesel production

Brassica carinata seed is a non-edible oil containing crop grown for oil-based product development like biodiesel synthesis. However, recently technical challenges such as availability of feedstock, type of catalyst, cost, and quality of biodiesel hindered the feasibility and utilization of biodiesel. Thus, this study addressed those problems under the production of fatty acid methyl ester through trans-esterification reaction in the presence of heterogeneous catalyst (CaO), and methanol alcohol from Ethiopian brassica carinata seed oil. The synergetic and antagonistic effects of selected parameters (temperature, methanol to oil molar ratio, and amount of catalyst) on the yield of FAME were analyzed. Box-Behnken response surface methodology statistical analysis was applied to examine the parametric interaction effect, and optimization of reaction conditions. Accordingly, 90 % of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield was achieved at the optimum value of 65 °C temperature, 14.85: 1 methanol to oil molar ratio, and 13.77 % catalyst load. The fuel properties of the resulted biodiesel were determined following standard procedures, and the results were within the standard limits (ASTM D6751). This implies that brassica carinata oil over heterogeneous catalyzed reaction medium under optimum reaction conditions provides higher biodiesel yield.

A Spherical Superhydrophobic Activated Carbon Catalyst for Biodiesel Production ‐Exploring Process Efficiency, Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Life Cycle Cost Analysis

AbstractEngineering the wettability of functional materials holds significant interest, focusing on the need for superhydrophobic catalysts, crucial for their ability to prevent the poisoning of active sites by water, produced in situ or as a by‐product. Herein, for the first time, a superhydrophobic spherical activated carbon (SSAC@PhSO3H) is engineered as a catalyst via a novel synthetic approach and tailored in Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) biodiesel synthesis. With a large surface area (1461 m2 g−1), high acid density (6.26 mmol g−1), and water contact angle (163.4°), the catalyst demonstrates superior performance and remarkable water repellency, firmly establishing its superhydrophobic characteristics. Response Surface Methodology based on the Central Composite Design (RSM‐CCD) approach predicted a maximal biodiesel yield of 98.8% (80 °C, 5 wt%, 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio (MOMR), and 40 min). Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) estimates biodiesel production cost of 0.37 USD ($) per kg emphasizing high commercial viability. Compared with H2SO4‐sulfonated biochar, SSAC@PhSO3H retains its inherent activity (86.8 ± 0.4% yield in 10th run) and spherical morphology even after nine successive reaction cycles indicating high stability. Nevertheless, JCO biodiesel's fuel properties met European Norm, EN 14 212 and American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM D6757 standards, highlighting its potential for industrial biodiesel production.

NaAlO2/CuFe2O4 as a novel basic magnetic heterogeneous catalyst for effective biodiesel production: Synthesis, characterization, and optimization via RSM-FCCD modeling approach

This research focus on the development of a novel and superior basic magnetic heterogeneous catalyst, using NaAlO2 as an active species supported in CuFe2O4 to produce biodiesel. Thus, a series of catalysts have been synthesized by means of conventional and low-cost methods. The features of catalyst have been elucidated through techniques such as basicity, XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDS, TG/DTG and VSM. To optimize the biodiesel’s ester content, the face-centered central composite design with the response surface methodology, was employed to assess the effect of the aspects on the process: reaction temperature, MeOH:oil molar ratio, catalyst dosage and time. The regression model presented R2 = 0.9394 and experimentally reached a maximum ester content of 95.9 % attributed to the biodiesel attained under the optimal reaction conditions: temperature of 95.0 °C, MeOH:oil molar ratio of 13:1, catalyst dosage of 8.0 % and time of 60.0 min. The catalyst presented a stable catalytic performance during four transesterification cycles (>90.0 %) and an efficient magnetic property for the catalyst separation and recovery process (Ms = 23.62 emu g−1). The biodiesel’s physicochemical properties were in compliance with ASTM D6751 standard. Finally, this extensive study reveals the basic magnetic heterogeneous catalyst as a practical and promising alternative to produce a sustainable biofuel.

Glycerol-Free Biodiesel via Catalytic Interesterification: A Pathway to a NetZero Biodiesel Industry

Conventional biodiesel manufacturing uses alcohol as an acyl acceptor, resulting in glycerol as a side product. The increased demand for biodiesel has led to the production of a substantial surplus of glycerol, exceeding the market need. Consequently, glycerol is now being regarded as a byproduct, and in some cases, even as waste. The present study aims to suggest an economically viable and ecologically friendly approach for maintaining the viability of the biodiesel sector. This involves generating an alternative byproduct of higher value, rather than glycerol. Triacetin is produced through the interesterification of triglycerides with methyl acetate, and is a beneficial ingredient to biodiesel, reducing the need for extensive product separation. The primary objective of this research is to improve the interesterification reaction by optimising process parameters to maximise biodiesel production while using sulphuric acid as an economically viable catalyst. The study utilised the Box–Behnken design (BBD) to investigate the influence of various process variables on biodiesel yield, such as reaction time, methyl acetate to oil molar ratio, and catalyst concentration. An optimisation study using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) focused on key process reaction parameters, including the methyl acetate to oil (MA:O) molar ratio, catalyst concentration, and residence time. The best conditions produced a biodiesel blend with a 142% yield at a 12:1 MA:O molar ratio, with 0.1 wt% of catalyst loading within 1.7 h. The established technique is deemed to be undeniably effective, resulting in an efficient biodiesel production process.

Heterogeneous Calcium Oxide Catalytic Filaments for Three-Dimensional Printing: Preparation, Characterization, and Use in Methyl Ester Production.

This study aimed to investigate heterogeneous catalytic filaments of calcium oxide (CaO) for fused deposition modeling three-dimensional (3D) printers. The CaO catalysts were blended with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic to form catalytic filaments. A single-screw filament extruder was used to prepare the filaments, following which their mechanical properties, thermal properties, morphology, catalytic characteristics in biodiesel production, and reusability were evaluated. In accordance with the results, a maximum CaO catalyst content of 15 wt % was recommended to be blended in the ABS pellet. The hardness and compressive strength of these catalytic filaments were shown to be improved. Subsequently, the catalytic filaments with the highest CaO content (15 wt %) were used to produce methyl ester from pretreated sludge palm oil through the transesterification process. To determine the recommended conditions for achieving the highest purity of methyl ester in biodiesel, the process parameters were optimized. A methyl ester purity of 96.58 wt % and a biodiesel yield of 79.7 wt % could be achieved under the recommended conditions of a 9.0:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, 75.0 wt % catalytic filament loading, and 4.0 h reaction time. Furthermore, the reusability of the 15 wt % CaO catalytic filaments was evaluated in a batch process with multiple transesterification cycles. The results indicated that the purity of methyl ester dropped to 95.0 wt % only after the fourth cycle. The method used in this study for preparing and characterizing CaO catalytic filaments can potentially serve as a novel approach for constructing biodiesel reactors using 3D printing technology.

Biolubricant production from Indian mustard seed oil through ethyl biodiesel-2G precursor using K2CO3 as heterogeneous catalyst

Biolubricants are sustainable alternatives to mineral lubricants and offer environmental, economic and social benefits, including the possibility of producing bioproducts on-farm. Previous research showed that Indian mustard seed oil (IMSO) could be converted into biolubricants by double transesterification using potassium hydroxide as a homogeneous catalyst. The objective of this work was to study the effectiveness of the heterogeneous catalyst potassium bicarbonate (K2CO3) for the conversion of IMSO into biolubricant using an ethyl biodiesel precursor in a double transesterification-based process. The first transesterification reaction aimed to convert IMSO into ethyl biodiesel (IMSOEEs) by conducting the ethanolysis under various operating conditions to optimize the process. The optimal operating conditions obtained were: 78 °C, 1.01 bar, 4 wt% K2CO3, ethanol to oil molar ratio of 8, and a reaction time of 60 min (with addition of 25 wt% recycled glycerol at 60 min to improve demixing). The second transesterification reaction converted IMSOEEs into biolubricants through reactive distillation with 2-ethylhexanol (2 EH) under the following optimized operating conditions: 100 °C, 0.05 bar, 4 wt% K2CO3, 2 EH to IMSOEEs molar ratio of 4, and a reaction time of 120 min. Both ethyl biodiesel and biolubricant were produced with very satisfactory purity (≥96 wt%), thus meeting the expected functional properties.

Photoesterification of Waste Cooking Oil using ZnO Doped Empty Fruit Bunches Ash Heterogeneous Catalyst

Introduction:: Waste from the palm oil industry, such as empty fruit bunch ash (EFBA) and palm oil mill effluents (POME), is a type of biomass created during the production of palm oil and produced in vast quantities. Due to the massive amounts of empty fruit bunch ash produced because of the exponential rise in worldwide palm oil production, major plantations are having trouble disposing of them. Aim:: The purpose of this research is to study the effectiveness of the ZnO-EFBA catalyst under visible light irradiation for the photoesterification reaction and its physicochemical properties of the photocatalyst that will be determined using TGA, SEMEDX, XRD and BET. Method:: The biodiesel will be produced by using two steps which are photoesterification to reduce the FFA value in WCO and followed by transesterification to produce FAMEs. The photoesterification reactions were conducted using WCO under visible light irradiation. Various parameters were examined, including different reaction times of 1 to 4 hours, different methanol to oil molar ratios of 12:1, 14:1, 16:1, and 18:1, and different ZnO-EFBA catalyst loadings ranging from 0 wt.% to 8 wt.%. The obtained results demonstrated that each WCO sample has a different optimum condition in the photoesterification reaction. Moreover, it was observed that lower FFA values correlated with higher biodiesel conversion rates in the transesterification reaction with 79.06%, 77.72% and 73.33% for samples 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Result:: By using EFBA as a heterogeneous catalyst doped with ZnO in the manufacturing of biodiesel, it helps to reduce the waste that the palm oil industry creates, limiting the adverse effects on human health and environmental harm. Furthermore, biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning alternative to petroleum fuel, which is domestically manufactured. Conclusion:: The use of biodiesel as a vehicle fuel boosts energy security, enhances the environment and air quality, and offers safety advantages.

Transesterification of used cooking oil by palm lignocellulosic biomass magnetic biochar catalyst: Optimization and kinetic analysis

Biodiesel has recently gained popularity as an alternative biofuel to substitute fossil fuel. Utilization of magnetic biochar catalyst (MBC) in biodiesel production can enhance the catalyst separation process. In this research, MBC was synthesized from oil palm waste such as palm kernel shell (PKS), oil palm frond (OFP), and empty fruit bunch (EFB). Biodiesel production parameters were studied using the Central Composite Design-based Response Surface Method. Based on the characterization results, EFB is the most suitable palm lignocellulosic biomass for MBC synthesis. The MBC has a BET surface area of 44.42 m2 g−1, an average acid density value of 3.85 mmol g−1, and a σs value of 3.19 Am2 kg−1. MBC synthesis is at its optimal by using 1.5 M FeCl3·6H2O solution, 800 °C carbonization temperature, and 2.5 M H2SO4. The optimized transesterification parameters are: catalyst loading of 10.25 wt%, methanol to oil molar ratio of 28, 70 °C, and 8 h gave a maximum fatty acid methyl ester yield of 91.50 %. After five cycles, the yield dropped to 67.37 %. Biodiesel production is reported to be the pseudo-irreversible first-order kinetic with an activation energy of 29.20 kJ mol−1. The physicochemical characterization showed the biodiesel has met the ASTM D6751 standard.

Characterization of phytosynthesized niobium oxide nanoparticle for efficient conversion of Grewia asiatica L. waste seed oil into sustainable fuel

The production of bioenergy and bioproducts from streams of biowaste has ignited interest in fostering a circular economy worldwide. This study investigates the potential of transforming Grewia asiatica L. waste seed oil into sustainable biodiesel using green-synthesized niobium oxide nanoparticle. Niobium oxide nanocatalyst was synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Fumaria indica L. Advanced characterization techniques were employed to confirm the pure and nano-scale nature of the synthesized niobium oxide nanocatalyst. The synthesized nanocatalyst exhibited an average particle size of 31 nm, resulting in efficient catalytic activity that persited through the fifth cycle of transesterification. An optimum biodiesel yield of 90% was achieved under reaction conditions of a methanol to oil molar ratio of 9:1, a reaction time of 180 min, a temperature of 60 °C and a catalyst load of 0.32 (wt. %). Results of Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of G. asiatica-derived biodiesel revealed 5, 8-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester as the primary fatty acid methyl ester, with the highest concentration. The fuel properties of G. asiatica-derived biodiesel complied with international standards. The minimal sulphur content of 0.0001% highlights the clean, environmentally benign and cost-effective nature of biodiesel synthesized from G. asiatica waste seed oil. This study contributes to the renewable alternative effort toward transitioning from a linear economy to a circular bioeconomy.