BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM NEEM SEED OIL USING A BIO-BASED BIFUNCTIONAL CATALYST

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel was produced from neem seed oil using one-step esterification and transesterification process. A bio-based bi-functional catalyst (BBFC) was prepaered from calcined snail shell and calcined orange peel for this purpose in order to produce biodiesel in one-step process in order to reduce cost of production. The preparation of this bio-based bi-functional catalyst (BBFC) for the production of biodiesel has become very important. The BBFC was prepared from sulfonated calcined snail shells and calcined orange peel by wet impregnation method. The bi-functional catalyst of snail shell and orange peel was calcined at 900oc. It was used to investigate the catalytic activity in one-step production process of neem seed oil having high free fatty acid content of 9.784. Characterization of the BBFC was done using SEM, TGA/DTGA, BET-BJH, EDXRF, XRD, and FTIR. Taguchi method was used to carry out the one-step production process.