Biodiesel production using areca nut (Areca catechu L.) leaf ash-K2CO3 catalyst via transesterification from an oil blend of three different feedstocks
Simangsa Boro, Bipul Das, Sujata Brahma, Bidangshri Basumatary, Siri Fung Basumatary, Siri Fung Basumatary, Sanjay Basumatary, Sanjay Basumatary
Abstract
The current study aims to develop a heterogeneous base catalyst from areca nut ( Areca catechu L.) leaf ash incorporated with K 2 CO 3 . The composite heterogeneous catalyst was used to catalyze transesterification of a mixture of edible and inedible oils viz. soybean, jatropha and pongamia oil for biodiesel production. The characterization of the catalyst was done by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The highest biodiesel yield of 96.57 ± 0.81 % was attained in 3.35 ± 0.15 h under optimal conditions of 9:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil (MRMO), 15 wt% catalyst concentration at 65 °C temperature. The reusability of the catalyst was successfully studied till 3rd cycle, resulting in 82.76 ± 0.80 % biodiesel yield. The feasibility of the resultant methyl esters was asserted by FT-IR, Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance ( 13 C NMR), Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR), and Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. The developed catalyst can be considered an active catalyst, which is advantageous because of its cost-effectiveness and environmentally friendly nature. • Calcined areca nut leaf ash-K 2 CO 3 catalyst utilized for biodiesel production from mixed oil (edible and non-edible). • The catalyst with mesoporous structure and polycrystalline nature has the surface area of 17.772 m 2 g −1 . • The yield of 96.57 ± 0.81 % biodiesel was achieved with a conversion of 97.99 % at the optimum conditions. • The catalyst could be reused up to the 3rd cycles attaining 82.76 ± 0.80 % biodiesel yield.