Sustainable Biodiesel Production Research Articles

Green hetero-alkali catalyst in optimized waste lard oil transesterification for biodiesel synthesis

Climate change in addition to the imminent depletion of the fossil fuel reserve has necessitated the search for a sustainable alternative fuel. In this research, the catalytic capability of a green heterogeneous alkali catalyst, thermally activated banana-plantain-peel-ash catalyst was examined in optimized waste lard oil (WLO) transesterification process in lard-oil-methyl-ester (LOME) synthesis. The catalyst was derived from a banana-plantain-peel-ash mixture and subjected to a calcination process while the catalyst properties were described via Scanning electron microscope-Energy dispersive atomic-x-ray-spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction-(XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) as well as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). Optimization of the waste lard oil transesterification process was conducted with the Desirability Explore Algorithm (DEA) in Central Composite Design (CCD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A 99.9 % conversion of WLO to LOME was attained at the optimum reaction settings of 57 °C temperature, catalyst amount-2.5 wt%, time-1.5 h, and methanol to WLO molar ratio of 10.5:1 with a total desirability of 0.99 which was evaluated experimentally as 99 %. In the LOME synthesis procedure, the resulting empirical model demonstrated statistical significance and suitability based on its high F-value of 35.59 and infinitesimal p-value of less than 0.0001. The determined LOME fuel qualities met the applicable standard specifications (ASTM-D6751 and EN-14241) hence, have the potential to function as a diesel fuel substitute. The fused influence of WLO and the thermally activated bio-mixture catalyst was highly effective in biodiesel synthesis. Thus; a promising cheap feedstock source for green and sustainable biodiesel production was achieved.

Efficient and Sustainable Biodiesel Production via Transesterification: Catalysts and Operating Conditions

Biodiesel has received tremendous attention as a sustainable energy source. This review presents an overview of various catalysts utilized in biodiesel production and compares their potential for producing biodiesel. Presented here are the excellent features of the various catalysts while highlighting their drawbacks. For instance, production of biodiesel with homogeneous base catalysts is easy but it can only be used with refined oils having low levels of free fatty acid (FFAs). When homogeneous acid is used in esterification, it causes reactor corrosion. Water and FFAs do not affect heterogeneous acid catalysts. Thus, transesterification of triglycerides into biodiesel and converting FFAs into biodiesel through esterification can be catalyzed more efficiently using a heterogeneous acid catalyst. Biocatalysts are also being used to produce biodiesel from oils with high FFAs. However, heterogeneous acid catalysts and biocatalysts are not suitable for industrial application due to serious mass transfer limitations. Biodiesel yield and conversion were compared over various catalysts in this paper. Also presented are the effects of different reaction parameters on biodiesel yield over different catalysts. The correct interplay of factors like reaction temperature, time, alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, and catalyst loading produces optimal process conditions that give the highest biodiesel yield.

Sustainable Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil and Crude Palm Oil Using a Custom Mini Pilot Plant

The widespread practice of reusing Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) in hawker food stalls, often for multiple frying cycles, presents a significant public health concern due to the degradation of the oil, which can lead to the formation of toxic compounds. These practices not only pose health risks, such as increasing the potential for cardiovascular diseases and cancer, but also contribute to environmental pollution when the oil is improperly disposed of. This study seeks to address these issues by converting WCO, along with crude palm oil (CPO), into biodiesel using a custom-designed mini pilot plant. The biodiesel production process involved a two-step reaction. The first step, esterification, was conducted using a 55:100 alcohol-to-oil volume ratio with 1% by volume sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) as the acid catalyst, at 60°C, with a reaction time of 30 minutes and a stirring speed of 800 rpm. The second step, transesterification, utilized a 6:1 alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, with 1 wt.% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the alkaline catalyst, carried out at 70°C over the course of one hour. These conditions were carefully selected to optimize the conversion efficiency and to minimize the free fatty acid content, which is crucial for achieving a high yield of biodiesel. The results demonstrated that the mini pilot plant is highly effective in producing biodiesel from both WCO and CPO. The study also led to the development of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the biodiesel production process, ensuring reproducibility and efficiency.

Catalytic Potential of Singgora Roof Tiles in Transesterification for Sustainable Biodiesel

The study centred around the uitilization of Singgora roof tiles as a heterogeneous catalyst in the production of biodiesel via the transesterification process. The motivation behind this choice stems from the non-recyclable nature of Singgora roof tiles and their potential applicability in biodiesel synthesis. To enhance the catalytic properties, zinc oxide (ZnO) is incorporated using the wet impregnation technique during catalyst preparation. The catalyst was characterized by XRF and SEM-EDX. A two-step transesterification method is employed to mitigate the levels of free fatty acid (FFA) in waste cooking oil (WCO). The initial step involves treating the WCO with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to reduce FFA. Subsequently, the Singgora roof tiles catalyst is utilized in the second step. A high yield of FAMEs, specifically 96.96%, was achieved under the optimal conditions, which included a methanol-to- oil ratio of 12:1, a catalyst concentration of 1 wt.%, a reaction temperature of 65 °C, and a reaction time of 2 hours. The quality of the biodiesel produced was analyzed according to biodiesel standards such as ASTM D6751, EN 14214, and AOCS, and it met all the required standards. The study demonstrates the potential of using Singgora roof tiles as a heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production, offering a promising approach to repurposing non-recyclable materials and advancing sustainable biodiesel production methods.

Highly potent novel SnS2/Zeolite (SFAZ) photocatalyst: An eco-friendly and sustainable strategy for producing biodiesel

Recently, many efforts have been undertaken to advance the development of sustainable biofuel production by transesterifying various oil feedstocks with methanol. In an attempt to contribute in this vein, the current research highlights the synthesis of a novel SnS2/Zeolite (SFAZ) composite photocatalyst for sustainable biodiesel production from soyabean oil through photocatalytic transesterification reaction under visible light irradiation. The reaction parameters influencing the biodiesel yield were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and almost complete conversion (99.78 %) of soyabean oil into methyl esters was accomplished at a photocatalyst loading of 3 wt%, methanol-to-oil ratio of 14:1 within 60 min of visible light irradiation at 338 K. The photocatalytic transesterification reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the activation energy needed to initiate the transesterification reaction was 28.29 kJ/mol, much lower than other catalysts. The excitation of electrons and the production of holes were required to initiate the transesterification reaction suggested by the scavenger tests, and the photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. The prepared SFAZ composite showed excellent stability and reusability of 80.46 ± 1.13 % in the fifth run. Thus, the current research provides useful insights into sustainable biodiesel production through photocatalytic transesterification reactions under visible light.

An artificial intelligence approach to model and optimize biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using life cycle assessment and market dynamics analysis

Biodiesel has emerged as a viable alternative to fuel, offering a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy option. The current study explores the modeling and optimization of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using artificial intelligence and genetic algorithms. The study focuses on enhancing five process parameters: methanol-to-oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time, and stirring speed. The optimization of these parameters is complemented by a life cycle assessment to reduce environmental impact. The approach considers biodiesel yield, high heating value, and energy consumption as output variables, thereby advancing sustainable biodiesel production. The findings indicated that, under optimal conditions (methanol-to-oil ratio of 1:6.9, stirring rate of 500 rpm, reaction duration of 20 s, reaction temperature of 30 °C and catalyst concentration of 1), the transesterification process achieved the maximum biodiesel yield of 97.76 %. The optimization reached a low environmental impact in the production of biodiesel in an efficient way. Additionally, SWOT analysis helps to develop strategic methods that can enhance efficiency and increase competitiveness. The research suggests that, by optimizing the chemical process in biodiesel production, it is possible to achieve a high yield and high heating value of the biofuel, along with feasible environmental mitigation strategies.

Zero-waste biorefining co-products from ultrasonically assisted deep eutectic solvent-pretreated Chlorella biomass: Sustainable production of biodiesel and bio-fertilizer

Microalgal biomass is gaining increasing attention to produce high-value co-products. This study proposes integrating Chlorella microalgal biomass into a zero-waste biorefining system, aiming to produce biodiesel and biofertilizer. It investigates optimal conditions for ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment and lipid recovery to enhance the extraction of lipids. Optimal DES pretreatment was identified as a 1.6:1 acetic acid-to-choline chloride molar ratio, 0.36 g biomass loading, and 2.50 min of pretreatment. Lipid recovery succeeded with a 10-minute extraction time and a 1:3 methanol-to-butanol volume ratio. These conditions yielded biodiesel-quality lipids at 139.52 mg/g microalgal biomass with superior fuel characteristics. The de-oiled microalgal biomass residue exhibited promise as a lettuce biofertilizer, enhancing photosynthetic pigments but potentially reducing yields by 40 %. The study also notes changes in rhizosphere microbial communities, indicating both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on beneficial microbes. This study has the potential to enhance sustainability in energy, agriculture, and the environment.

Boosting catalytic efficiency of lipase by regulating amphiphilic microenvironment through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerized modifications on polyacrylonitrile fiber

Lipases are increasingly attracting attention in green and sustainable biodiesel production. Currently, the research emphasis lies in immobilizing unstable lipase onto carriers to enhance its performance. Polyacrylonitrile fiber (PANF) is considered to be a promising material for lipase immobilization due to its excellent properties. In this study, functional carriers with regulated surface hydrophobicity were obtained by loading functional groups on PANF via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerized modification, and Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) was covalently immobilized on the carrier with glutaraldehyde as a linker. By employing this optimized biocatalyst PANF@BMA&2VImBr-NH2-CRL in the transesterification process, the yield of biodiesel derived from soybean oil reached an impressive 92.7 %. The outstanding performance can be attributed to the activation of lipase interface induced by hydrophobic microenvironment derived from alkyl ester on the carrier skeleton. Moreover, the stability and storage performance of immobilized lipase were significantly improved. The immobilized lipase exhibited facile recovery and maintained a consistent biodiesel yield of 80.9 % even after undergoing 5 cycles of reuse, thereby highlighting its potential for sustainable production. To sum up, our research demonstrates that the designed and prepared process of PANF-supported lipase offers a promising approach for enzyme immobilization, thereby presenting extensive potential applications in the field of biotechnology.

Exploring waste-derived catalysts for sustainable biodiesel production: a path towards renewable energy

Exploring waste-derived catalysts for sustainable biodiesel production: a path towards renewable energy

Correction: Sustainable Biodiesel Production via Chlorella vulgaris and Tetraselmis Chuii in Food-based Brewery Industrial Wastewater

Correction: Sustainable Biodiesel Production via Chlorella vulgaris and Tetraselmis Chuii in Food-based Brewery Industrial Wastewater

Sustainable biodiesel production from waste cooking oils for energetically independent small communities: an overview

AbstractIntroducing synthetic fuels and biofuels like biodiesel can be pivotal in transitioning to a decarbonised energy system. Biodiesel offers a versatile solution with various production technologies, each with advantages and disadvantages, depending on several factors, including the specific application of biodiesel. In a smart grid, an advanced electrical grid that leverages digital technology to detect and respond to local changes in usage, a small community could harness biodiesel for energy storage and supply. By implementing a renewable energy storage system in the form of biodiesel from waste oils, individuals can contribute to developing innovative solutions for the combined and distributed production of electricity and heat, primarily from renewable sources. The aim is to make the production-demand distribution networks within a hybrid system smart and in line with the concept of nanogrid. This localised grid can operate independently or in conjunction with the traditional power grid and can integrate generation systems from fossil and renewable sources, micro-cogeneration, and accumulation. The possibility of exploiting biodiesel in a nanogrid as an eco-sustainable source for energy storage opens up the possibility of building small-scale plants. For example, converting 3682 L/year of waste oils from a university campus dining facilities to 3712 L/year of biodiesel allows replacing 19% of the fossil diesel consumed by the university fleet, with a payback period of 16 months, lower capital and operational costs, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions of 9.37 tonnes CO2-eq/yr. Therefore, biodiesel becomes a sustainable energy source for energy communities, underscoring the innovative potential of this approach.

Sustainable biodiesel production via castor oil transesterification using organotin(IV) compounds as catalysts

The rapid reduction in fossil fuel reserves and their environmental effects has caused a serious threat to humanity. Meanwhile, the exponential increase in the usage of fossil fuels demands the exploration of new energy sources. Therefore, this work was designed keeping in view the today need of the World for renewable energy source. The 4-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenylamino)-4-oxobut-2-enoic acid based organotin(IV) carboxylates were prepared and characterized by FT-IR, NMR and single crystal XRD analysis. Due to the Lewis acid character of Sn(IV) centre confirmed by DFT computational study, the synthesized compounds were used as catalysts for the transesterification of castor oil for biodiesel production. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the catalytic performance of the tested compounds was found as follow: 1 > 3 > 2 > 4 > 6 > 5 > 7. The obtained biodiesel was confirmed by FT-IR, NMR and GC–MS. The fuel properties of the obtained biodiesel were also determined and compared with American Standard (ASTM D-6751). Based on their catalytic performance, these compounds might be the potential future candidates for the expansion of catalyst systems for efficient biodiesel production from the various feedstocks.

Production, optimization, and characterization of biodiesel from almond seed oil using a bifunctional catalyst derived from waste animal bones and almond shell

The search for environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional fossil fuels has been intensified by the global shift toward sustainable energy sources. With over 95% of the fuel market dominated by petroleum-based products, concerns regarding their limited biodegradability and high eco-toxicity have been escalated. In response, there is a growing demand for biobased solutions that can mitigate pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, the synthesis of biodiesel from waste almond seed oil (WCO) was focused on, utilizing an innovative bifunctional catalyst derived from waste animal bones and almond shells. The efficacy of the catalyst synthesized from these unconventional materials was confirmed through rigorous characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) analysis. The physicochemical properties of WCO and the resulting biodiesel were evaluated according to ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. To optimize the catalytic process, Box Behnken Design (BBD) was employed to explore the effects of key parameters: reaction temperature (40-60°C), reaction time (60-90 minutes), catalyst loading (0.5-1.5 wt%), and methanol-to-oil ratio (6:1-18:1). Remarkably, under optimal conditions, an impressive biodiesel yield of 86.2% was achieved. Specifically, the optimal parameters were a Methanol:Oil Ratio of 6.026, Catalyst Loading of 1.49917 wt%, Reaction Time of 66.8179 minutes, and Temperature of 59.9806°C. The potential of utilizing waste materials for sustainable biodiesel production is underscored by our findings. The bifunctional catalyst developed in this study represents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional catalysts, contributing to cleaner fuel production methods.

Synergistic effect of selenium and gibberellic acid for enhanced biomass, lipid and improved biodiesel quality from Tetradesmus obliquus through response surface methodology

Biodiesel production from microalgae presents an innovative solution for renewable energy. This study investigates biodiesel production using Tetradesmus obliquus ON506010.1 by optimizing substrates, selenium and gibberellic acid. Using 15 µg/L selenium, lipid content and biomass productivity reached 35.45 %±0.92 and 0.178 g/L/day ± 0.051. With 50 µM gibberellic acid, biomass productivity and lipid content peaked at 0.785 ± 0.101 g/L/day and 38.95 %±0.35, surpassing the control. Fatty acid composition, biodiesel properties, and mRNA expression of lipid synthesis enzymes (acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid desaturase (FAD)) correlated. Combining 10 µg/L selenium with 75 µM gibberellic acid with response surface methodology (RSM) increased lipid content (42.80 % ±0.11) and biomass productivity (0.964 g/L/day ± 0.128). ACC and FAD upregulation validated this enhancement, with a 4.4-fold increase in FAD expression. Fatty acid composition and most biodiesel properties met international standards demonstrating Tetradesmus obliquus ON506010.1′s potential for sustainable biodiesel production with better cold flow property and oxidative stability.

Sustainable and eco-friendly production of biodiesel from Chlorella vulgaris supplemented with biogenic calcium oxide nanoparticles derived from Ulva intestinalis and eggshell as precursors

Biodiesel derived from microalgae has the potential to be a sustainable fuel. Eggshell waste is rich in vital compounds, but still creates pollution problems, due to being discarded in the landfills without any treatment. This study aims to convert eggshells to CaCl2 and use CaCl2 derived from eggshells to biogenic CaO-NPs. Tested the impact of CaCl2, CaCl2 derived from eggshells, and biogenic CaO-NPs, as supplementation to the BG11 media on the growth and lipids yield of Chlorella vulgaris green alga. This study used Ulva intestinalis green alga to synthesize (Ui-CaO-NPs). The characterizations of Ui-Ca-ONPs were analyzed by EDS, XRD, zeta potential, FT-IR, and TEM. Chlorella vulgaris cultivated in modified BG11 media that was supplemented by different concentrations of CaCl2, CaCl2 derived from eggshell, and Ui-CaO-NPs as eggshell precursors (0.009, 0.018, and 0.036 g/L). The low concentrations of CaCl2 as eggshell precursors possessed high optical density, dry weight, and lipids contents of C. vulgaris. The best Chlorophyll a and b contents were obtained with Ui-CaO-NPs (0.018 g/L). The highest carotenoid content was obtained with alga grown in a medium containing 0.036 g/L CaCL2 the GC.Ms. analysis possessed the high-quality lipids profile obtained with C. vulgaris cultivated in media containing 0.018 g/L Ui-CaO-NPs. Eggshells can be used as sources of CaCl2 and CaO-NPs for different applications as eco-friendly and economical materials.

RSM and ANN methodologies in modeling the enhanced biodiesel production using novel protic ionic liquid anchored on g-C3N4@Fe3O4 nanohybrid

Herin, a new nanohybrid acid catalyst was fabricated for the efficient biodiesel production. At the first, magnetic porous nanosheets of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4@Fe3O4) was prepared and then functionalized with sulfonic acid. Next, the preparation of the catalyst was completed by mixing this surface modified support with n-methyl imidazolium butyl sulfonate zwitterion to achieve non-covalent immobilized acidic ionic liquid on g-C3N4@Fe3O4 support. The catalyst underwent characterization through various techniques such as 1H and 13C NMR, FTIR, SEM, TEM, TGA, EDX and BET which revealing that the magnetic support loaded acidic ionic liquids via a robust charge interaction effect enabling the one-pot production of biodiesel from low-quality oils. Furthermore, the catalyst could be simply recovered using a permanent magnet and reused multiple times without a significant decline in catalytic activity. Consequently, the solid catalyst based on ionic liquids holds promise for the sustainable and eco-friendly production of biodiesel from low-quality oils. Furthermore, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were used to model the yield and various process parameters. The findings underscore the enhanced predictive capabilities of ANN in comparison to RSM.

Sustainable and Green Production of Biodiesel from Calotropis procera Seed Oil Using CuO Nanocatalyst

Sustainable and Green Production of Biodiesel from Calotropis procera Seed Oil Using CuO Nanocatalyst

Enhanced Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil Using Potash-Enriched Natural Base Catalyst

The transesterification reaction of waste cooking oil with methanol using a sugar apple peel ash catalyst has been reported. Under optimized conditions, the reaction of the oil with methanol in a molar ratio of 1:10, in the presence of a catalyst (2 g) at 60 °C temperature offered a 94.5% yield of biodiesel within 120 min. The heterogeneous catalyst was developed via a straightforward calcination process using fruit processing industry waste peels of sugar apples. The characterization of the catalyst by FTIR, EDS, SEM, XRD, N2 sorption, and XRF analysis revealed a higher concentration of potassium species which is possibly responsible for the promotion of the transesterification reaction more efficiently. This approach offers cost competitiveness, reusability of the catalyst, simplicity of operation, and high biodiesel yields. This study underscores the potential of utilizing waste materials for sustainable biodiesel production, contributing to environmental preservation and economic viability.

Waste snail shells-derived mixed oxide catalyst for efficient transesterification of vegetable oil: Towards sustainable biodiesel production

This study explores the transesterification process of soybean oil for the production of biodiesel, utilizing an innovative mixed oxide catalyst obtained from discarded snail shells powder. The catalyst synthesis involved a thermal treatment at 900°C for 120 min, predominantly yielding calcium oxide (CaO). In order to evaluate its properties, we carried out a thorough characterization using various analytical techniques. The study explores the impact of crucial variables on the transesterification reaction, such as reaction time (from 30 to 150 min), methanol-to-oil ratio (from 3:1–18:1), and catalyst concentration (from 0.5% to 4% by weight). Optimal conditions emerged with a 90-min reaction time, a 12:1 methanol-to-oil ratio, and a 2% catalyst loading, yielding an impressive biodiesel conversion rate of approximately 93%. The validity of biodiesel conversion was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1 H NMR). The resultant biodiesel exhibited highly favorable characteristics, including an acid value of 0.85 mg of KOH/g, a density of 886.8 kg/m3, and a viscosity of 4.6 mm2/s. These measurements align with the standards set forth in EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 regarding biodiesel quality. The utilization of waste snail shells powder as a precursor for synthesizing the mixed oxide catalyst presents a promising approach for the sustainable production of biodiesel from soybean oil, offering a sustainable and efficient approach to biofuel production.

Enhancing high-density microalgae cultivation via exogenous supplementation of biostimulant derived from onion peel waste for sustainable biodiesel production

Microalgae demonstrate significant potential as a source of liquid-based biofuels. However, increasing biomass productivity in existing cultivation systems is a critical prerequisite for their successful integration into large-scale operations. Thus, the current work aimed to accelerate the growth of C. vulgaris via exogenous supplementation of biostimulant derived from onion peel waste. Under the optimal growth conditions, which entailed a biostimulant dosage of 37.5% v/v, a pH of 3, an air flow rate of 0.4 L/min, and a 2% v/v inoculum harvested during the mid-log phase, yielded a maximum biomass concentration of 1.865 g/L. Under the arbitrarily optimized parameters, a comparable growth pattern was evident in the upscaled cultivation of C. vulgaris, underscoring the potential commercial viability of the biostimulant. The biostimulant, characterized through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, revealed a composition rich in polyphenolic and organo-sulphur compounds, notably including allyl trisulfide (28.13%), methyl allyl trisulfide (23.04%), and allyl disulfide (20.78%), showcasing potent antioxidant properties. Additionally, microalgae treated with the biostimulant consistently retained their lipid content at 18.44% without any significant reduction. Furthermore, a significant rise in saturated fatty acid (SFA) content was observed, with C16:0 and C18:1 dominating both bench-scale (44.08% and 14.01%) and upscaled (51.12% and 13.07%) microalgae cultures, in contrast to the control group where C18:2 was prevalent. Consequently, SFA contents reached 54.35% and 65.43% in bench-scale and upscaled samples respectively, compared to 33.73% in the control culture. These compositional characteristics align well with the requirements for producing high-quality crude biodiesel.