Conversion of Novel Non-edible and Toxic Oil Seeds of Buxus papillosa C.K.Schneid. and Buxus wallichiana Baill. for Biodiesel Production via Phyto-nanocatalysts

Abstract

This research is concerned about the conversion of novel, non-edible and toxic seed oil of Buxus papillosa C.K.Schneid. and Buxus wallichiana Baill. for biodiesel production via Phyto-nanocatalysts of sodium potassium oxide and iron oxide. This study deals with the current defaults of environmental toxicity, heating, waste management, and economic crises, reducing toxic gasses emission, exploration of novel non-edible, toxic, and waste feedstock for renewable biodiesel synthesis. This project followed the identification and collection of novel, toxic and non-edible feedstocks for environment-friendly biodiesel production, seed oil extraction, plant-based novel extract preparation, nanocatalysts synthesis of sodium potassium oxide and iron oxide, using nanocatalysts in biodiesel formation via response surface methodology-based transesterification for yield optimization. Buxus papillosa C.K.Schneid. seeds oil concentration was 45% w/w while Buxus wallichiana Baill. seeds have oil content of 42% (w/w). A maximum 97% Buxus papillosa C.K.Schneid. methyl esters yield was obtained at optimized conditions of methanol ratio to oil (8:1), sodium potassium oxide nanocatalyst amount (0.37 wt%), reaction duration (180 min), and temperature of 80℃. Highest yield of 93% Buxus wallichiana Baill. biodiesel was obtained with optimized conditions of methanolic ratio to oil 8:1, iron oxide nanocatalyst loading (0.26 wt.%), temperature (60◦C) reaction time 115 minutes during transesterification reaction. Characterization of iron oxide and sodium/potassium oxide Phyto-nanocatalysts confirmed 23.5 nm and 33.9 nm nano-size successively and enhanced catalytic activity. Other nanocatalysts characterizing tools include FTIR, DRS, XRD, Zeta potential, SEM, and EDX. Methyl esters formation was authenticated FTIR, GC-MS, and NMR. The novel sodium/potassium oxide and iron oxide nanocatalyst reusability was checked for six and nine rounds respectively. Buxus papillosa fuel properties were within the international restrictions of fuel. The fuel properties for both feedstocks prepared biodiesel were according to international limitations. Due to the environmental remedial nature of these methyl esters, they are highly recommendable species for large-scale biodiesel production due to a massive number of seeds production and vast distribution