Biodiesel Production from Seeds Oil of Melia azedarach L. by Using Bronsted Acidic Ionic Liquid as Catalyst

Abstract

World demand for energy and concerns about the environment have sparked interest in renewable fuels such as biodiesel. This work describes the extraction and trans-esterification of biodiesel from Melia azedarach L. seeds utilizing KOH and 1-vinyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl) imidazolium hydrogen sulphate, a Bronsted acidic ionic liquid (IL), as catalysts. The effects of reaction parameters such as oil to methanol ratio, time, temperature, and catalyst dose were optimized to improve the biodiesel yield. Results showed that IL catalyzed biodiesel had 100% yield under optimized conditions of 120 minutes, 80 °C, 1% (w/w) catalyst dose, and 1:9 oil to methanol ratio. On the other hand, KOH catalyzed biodiesel had 97% yield under optimized conditions of 90 minutes, 100 °C, 1% (w/w) catalyst dose, and 1:6 oil to methanol ratio. Both biodiesels met the ASTM standards for biodiesel with respect to acid value, saponification value, peroxide value, iodine value, density, high heat values, cetane numbers, flash points, and pour points. Linoleic acid (79.69%) was discovered to be prominent in Melia azedarach L. oil after fatty acid characterization by GC-MS. Further FTIR analysis showed that the functional groups were successfully implemented in the IL as well as biodiesel. The study concludes that Melia azedarach L. seeds can be used to produce biodiesel at low cost, and IL catalyzed biodiesel results in higher quality biodiesel than KOH. The research has practical consequences for the quest for alternate and renewable energy sources, and it may help to reduce the harmful environmental effects of fossil fuels.