Optimization and characterization studies on the production of bio-diesel from WSO using carbon catalyst derived from coconut meal residue

ABSTRACT

This paper presents studies on solid acid catalyst synthesized by partial carbonization of coconut meal residue using sulfuric acid to produce biodiesel. The prepared solid acid catalyst characterization was done using XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX and BET analysis. The surface area obtained is 1.748 m²/g and mean pore volume is 0.019 cm³/g for the catalyst. The sulfonated carbon catalyst is utilized for the transesterification of waste cooking sunflower oil. Trans-esterification process parameters like temperature, oil to methanol ratio, catalyst amount, speed and reaction time were optimized using the Taguchi method. The maximum biodiesel yield of 96% was obtained with 6% (wt/wt) catalyst concentration and 1:9 oil-methanol molar ration for 5 h at 65°C.

KEYWORDS:

• Waste sunflower oil (WSO)
• sulfonated carbon catalyst
• trans-esterification
• Taguchi
• bio-diesel

Additional information

Notes on contributors

B. Devaraj Naik

B. Devaraj Naik obtained his B.Tech (2014) from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur (JNTUA), and M.tech (2016) in Mechanical Engineering from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal (MANIT). Currently, he is a Research Scholar of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. His research interests include Heterogeneous catalysis, Alternative Fuels, Process Optimization and IC engine.

M. Udayakumar

M. Udayakumar (Professor) obtained his B.E (1980) from Government College of Engineering, Salem (Madras University). He pursued his M.Tech (1982) in I.I.T., Madras and Ph. D (1997) in Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli in Mechanical Engineering. Currently, he is serving as a professor in mechanical engineering at the National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli. He has published His research interests include Thermal Engineering, Energy, Alternative Fuels, IC engines and CFD.