Production of high-quality biodiesel through methanolysis of Bombyx mori pupae waste oil

ABSTRACT

The inadequacy of natural resources to meet the energy demands of the population has led to new and sustainable ways of producing energy such as biodiesel. This study discusses the merits of employing desilked dried Bombyx mori pupae waste as feedstock for biodiesel production. This waste was found to have approximately 40% lipids, 54% proteins, and essential minerals in trace quantities. The maximum neutral lipid yield obtained through chemical extraction varied between 38% and 41% of the feedstock weight. This lipid was transesterified with an acid catalyst resulting in an approximate 90% yield of biodiesel. This product was characterized using GCMS, FTIR, and ¹HNMR spectroscopy. These studies have indicated the presence of good-quality biodiesel. This biodiesel was also found to have an induction time of 7.06 hours at 110°C. The physicochemical properties of the produced biodiesel were tested according to standard testing methods and were found to be satisfactory. The produced biodiesel was compared with a commercial biodiesel for its properties, and was found to be superior. The energy value of the silkworm pupae biodiesel showed over 10% increase than commercial biodiesel. This process also doubles as an effective waste management practice for the sericulture industry.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Bombyx mori pupae
• waste valorization
• biodiesel
• sericulture reeling waste
• transesterification
• fuel properties

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council under the PACE-AIR scheme [Ref. No. BT/AIR0852/PACE-18/19]. The authors thank the management of Coimbatore Institute of Technology for their support. One of the authors (Dhivya Priya Natarajan) thanks Mr. Mandabro for his constant support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing interests with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this research work.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council [BT/AIR0852/PACE-18/19].

Notes on contributors

Dhivya Priya Natarajan

Dhivya Priya Natarajan is a doctoral research scholar at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Technology. She holds a graduate degree (B.Tech) in Civil Engineering and a post-graduate degree (M.E.) in Environmental Engineering. She is a recipient of the National Doctoral Fellowship. She is working on waste valorization, emphasizing on energy recovery from solid waste.

Thirumarimurugan Marimuthu

Dr. Thirumarimurugan has over 25 years of experience in academia and research. He is the Professor and Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Coimbatore Institute of Technology. He holds a graduate degree (B.Tech) and a post-graduate degree (M.Tech) in Chemical Engineering. He also received his doctorate from Anna University, Chennai. His research interests include waste-to-energy recovery, process modeling and optimization, and heat exchangers. He has authored over 300 articles in various journals.