Synthesis of Bio-based oxides nano-composites catalyst from croton macrostachyus leaves for biodiesel production from croton macrostachyus seed oil

Abstract

This study explored the prospective of croton macrostachyus leaves as bio-based minerals rich resource found for metal oxides nano-catalyst synthesis by sol–gel-thermal oxidation method and the seeds as a future lipid-rich non edible resource used for synthesis of biodiesel by ultrasound-supported transeserification process. The prepared catalyst was characterized by diverse analytical practice such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), and Brunauer emmett teller (BET) analysis. The metal oxides nano-catalyst demonstrated very strong basic sites with surface area (126.3 m2 /g), and particle size (23.8 nm) which extensively reduced the diffusion resistance of triglycerides. EDX analysis indicated the presence of Ca-Fe-K-P-Al-Si/C oxides composites was used as nano-catalyst. Maximum yield of 98.85 ± 0.99 wt% achieved with1.23 wt% catalyst, 1:9.13 M ratio of oil to methanol, 36.4085 (round of 36) min reaction period at 50 KHz and 55.48 ◦C.The oil fatty acid profile and biodiesel were characterized by gas chromatography (GC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) spectroscopy, the energy specification of croton macrostachyus biodiesel were analysed and contrasted with ASTM D6751 standard. Nano-catalyst strong basic site enhances the efficiency of biodiesel production.