Optimization and kinetic study of CaO nano-particles catalyzed biodiesel production from Bombax ceiba oil

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 143; pp. 25 - 34
• Main Authors: Harsha Hebbar, H.R., Math, M.C., Yatish, K.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15.01.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Biodiesel; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Bombax ceiba; Bombax ceiba oil; Calcium; Calcium oxide; Characterization; Chemical synthesis; Diesel; Flowers & plants; Fourier transforms; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Kinetics; Lime; Nanoparticles; Optimization; Response surface methodology; RSM; Scanning electron microscopy; Thermogravimetric analysis; Transesterification; X-ray diffraction; Characterization; Kinetics; Bombax ceiba oil; Biodiesel; RSM
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.10.118

An attempt has been made to optimize biodiesel production from Bombax ceiba oil (BCO) through calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) catalyzed transesterification. Characterization of CaO-NPs synthesised by solution combustion method was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett Teller (BET) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The influence of reaction parameters was studied and optimized by using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in combination with central composite design (CCD). Two-stage transesterification technique was employed for biodiesel production and 96.2% yield of Bombax ceiba methyl ester (BCME) was achieved under optimum conditions. The CaO-NPs were reused up to 5 cycles with appreciable loss of yield. From the kinetic study performed at different reaction temperatures (55 °C, 60 °C and 65 °C) Ea = 35.99 kJ/mol was obtained. Fuel properties of produced methyl ester were also determined and compared with ASTM standards for biodiesel. •RSM was adopted to optimize the transesterification process parameters.•Maximum yield of 96.2% has obtained at optimum condition.•Synthesised CaO-NPs were characterized by XRD, SEM, FT-IR, BET and TGA.•The reusability of CaO-NPs were verified for 5 cycles.•Biodiesel production follows pseudo-first order kinetics.