Synthesis of biodiesel using native, nano and modified kaolinite copper oxide catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel is fuel composed of monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acid derived from lipid feedstock, such as vegetable, animal fat and waste oils. The objective of the study was to investigate the potential of oil from seeds of luffa cylinderica as raw material for the production of biodiesel using native, nano and modified nano kaolin as catalyst. The oil used in this work was extracted from the seed of luffa cylinderica seed by solvent extraction method using N-hexane at 60°C for one hour. The physicochemical analysis of the oil such Acid value, viscosity, saponification value, specific gravity, and free fatty acid, were evaluated. The native, nano, and modified nano catalysts were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Brunaur-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray Diffraction Crystallography (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). Biodiesel was produced using native, nano, and modified nano kaolinite clay as heterogeneous catalyst. The results gave oil yield (30.20%), Acid value (6.31 mg/KOH), FFA (3.15%), Flash point (167,128,124,132, and 130 respectively), pour point (-12,-13,-0.90, and -11.6), viscosity (6.22), and saponification value (184.6), The results show that the fuel properties conform to the standard values of ASTM method which give the evidence that luffa seed could serve as good source of oil for the production of biodiesel.