Heterogeneous catalyzied FAME synthesis from renewable feedstock

Abstract

With depleting conventional energy sources there is urgent need to look for alternatives for automotive fuel especially from Non-edible feedstocks. Present work investigates FAME (fatty acids methyl esters) synthesis commonly known as Biodiesel from non-edible feedstock Karanja using heterogeneous catalyst calcium oxide (CaO). Study was investigated considering effects of oil-methanol mole ratio, concentration of catalyst and temperature of reaction. Our results confirm that higher mole ratio was useful to enhance FAME yield. The findings of work confirm that molar ration of 1:8 was optimum for catalyst loading of 2.0% and reaction temperature of 60oC. The maximum yield of FAME was found 92.4%. The work confirms the FAME obtained from Karanja has a potential alternative for petro-based diesel. Novel protocol developed in present work address the issues of downstream processing of biodiesel synthesis and considerable amount of wastewater generated can be avoided.