OPTIMIZATION OF BIODIESEL FROM JATROPHA OIL USING IRON-DOPPED COW HORN AS CATALYST

ABSTRACT

The increasing demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources has driven substantial research into biodiesel production as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuels. This study investigate the optimization of biodiesel production from jatropha oil using irondopped cow horn as catalyst. The critical variables affecting biodiesel production, such as temperature, molar concentration, time, and degree of agitation, were examined. The investigation employed response surface methodology (RSM) to forecast biodiesel yield linked to these four variables. It was determined that all the factors' interactions had a significant influence on the yield. Catalyst concentration and methanol to oil ratio has significant effect on yield. The optimal operational conditions were identified as follows: a temperature of 64°C, a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 12:1, and a stirring speed of 460 rpm. Employing these conditions resulted in a biodiesel yield of 94% (by weight). This model can be effectively employed to forecast biodiesel yield from Jatropha oil over the studied temperature of 64°C. The catalyst were characterized using scanning electron microscope(SEM) together with , Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis to assess its suitability. This study showed that the synthesized bifunctional catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and stability, achieving a high yield of biodiesel in a short reaction time. The suitability of the biodiesel was confirmed by comparing the properties of biodiesel produced under optimized conditions with the acceptable limits outlined in ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards.