Sugarcane bagasse derived biochar – a potential heterogeneous catalyst for transesterification process

ABSTRACT

Increased release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere caused by extensive utilization of nonrenewable fossil fuels paved the way for unearthing alternative renewable energy sources. One such alternative is biodiesel which is renewable and emits fewer amounts of greenhouse gases when blended with conventional diesel fuel. Hence, in the present study, biodiesel production has been carried out by exploiting the biomass resource sugarcane bagasse (SCB) for catalyst development and waste cooking oil (WCO) as low-cost lipid feedstock. Biochar was synthesized from SCB using simple activation-carbonization technique and the catalytic activity of biochar was determined by performing the transesterification of WCO. The catalyst properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The synthesized biodiesel was analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy and a maximum biodiesel conversion of 98.94% was achieved at 10 wt% catalyst concentration, 1:2 volumetric ratio of methanol to oil ratio, 120 min of reaction time, and 65°C reaction temperature.

KEYWORDS:

• Sugarcane bagasse
• activation
• carbonization
• biochar
• waste cooking oil
• biodiesel

Acknowledgments

SN is grateful to SERB-DST, New Delhi, India for Early Career Research Award (ECR/2015/000036) and MB is thankful to SERB-DST for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board [SERB-ECR/2015/000036].

Notes on contributors

Subramaniapillai Niju

Subramaniapillai Niju is Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) of Biotechnology at PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India. He holds over 10 years of teaching experience and 9 years of research experience. He received Early Career Research (ECR) Award from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India in 2016.

Sivam Kumar Ajieth Kanna

Sivam Kumar Ajieth Kanna is B.Tech graduate in Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Technology.

Veerabathiran Ramalingam

Veerabathiran Ramalingam is B.Tech graduate in Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Technology.

Muniyappan Satheesh Kumar

Muniyappan Satheesh Kumar is B.Tech graduate in Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Technology.

Muthusamy Balajii

Muthusamy Balajii is Research scholar in Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Technology.