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ABSTRACT
Bio-based waste materials serve as significant sources of elements like Calcium and Potassium, which can function as active phases in the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production. This research project evaluates the potential of a composite bio-based heterogeneous catalyst comprising fused watermelon rind and pig bones for the transesterification of a binary oil mix comprising Palm Kernel Oi l (PKO) oil and PFO (PFO). Characterization of both the catalyst and precursor materials were conducted to assess their structural and compositional attributes. The production of biodiesel involved a single-step transesterification process, with the optimization of experimental variables carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Morphological analysis revealed an aggregated catalyst surface with well-defined pores. The catalyst exhibited bifunctional properties, characterized by the presence of both basic elements (calcium and potassium) and acidic oxides (silicon and iron). Notably, the catalyst showed a substantial surface area of 549.729 m2 /g and a significant pore volume of 0.162 cc/g, contributing to the achievement of a maximum biodiesel yield of 90.52%. This high yield was attained under specific conditions, including a reaction temperature of 60 °C, catalyst loading of 1 wt%, reaction time of 150 minutes, and a methanol-to-oil ratio of 10.5. The RSM model employed in this study demonstrates its adequacy in modelling biodiesel production, as indicated by an R2 value of 0.99 for the Cubic model. The properties of the biodiesel produced were found to align with established standards. This synthesized catalyst offers several advantages over conventional counterparts due to its reusability, straightforward synthesis process, stability, generous surface area, and the ready availability of precursor materials.
