Biodiesel synthesis using nano-catalysts from yellow oleander seed oil: a noval source for bioenergy

Abstract

The present research work is confined to the synthesis and characterization of different Nano-catalysts and used for the production ofbiodiesel from novel non-edible seed oil of Thevetia peruviana K.Schum. (Yellow oleander). The oil content (%) of Yellow oleander seeds is found to be 67%. Three different Nano catalysts (zinc oxide, magnesium oxide and mixture of Aluminum oxide and calcium oxide) were synthesized using co precipitation and Top-down method. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM and EDX in order to examine their crystalline size, shape and composition. It is reported that Magnesium Oxide have a cubic structure with 20 nm of crystalline size, zinc oxide have hexagonal structure with 25.8 nm of crystalline size and mixture of Aluminum oxide and calcium oxide have hexagonal symmetry with 30 nm of crystalline size. In addition, no impurity was detected in the prepared catalysts. Biodiesel is synthesized from by transesterification reaction usmg above heterogeneous Nano catalyst. Highest yield of Thevetia peruviana oil biodiesel (TPOB) were obtained using Magnesium oxide i.e. 93.1 %, followed by zinc oxide (92.35%) and mixture of Aluminum oxide and calcium oxide (88%). FUlihem10re, the optimized conditions for highest yield of TPOB (93.1 %) was obtain at 90°C by using 1:5 oil to methanol ratio and O.2gm of Magnesium oxide as a catalyst. All the synthesized samples of TPOB is analytically characterize by using GC-MS and FT-IR techniques. Both techniques confinned the conversion ofTPO into Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs).The fuel properties ofTPOB were standardized using ASTM standards and results shows Flash point (85°C), Pour point (-10°C), Color, Kinematic viscosity (6.52 @ 40°C), Density (0.86@ 15°C Kg/L) , Total acid number (0.23 mg KOH/gm) and Sulfur (0.0002%) were detennined and it is also compared with High speed diesel. The fuel properties of TPOB were according to the range recommended by ASTM standards. It is concluded that the Yellow oleander is the potential source ofbiodiesel for global perspectives.