Solid oxide derived from waste shells of Turbonilla striatula as a renewable catalyst for biodiesel production

Biodiesel production via transesterification of mustard oil with methanol using solid oxide catalyst derived from waste shell of Turbonilla striatula was investigated. The shells were calcined at different temperatures for 4 h and catalyst characterizations were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurements . Formation of solid oxide i.e. CaO was confirmed at calcination temperature of 800 °C. The effect of the molar ratio of methanol to oil, the reaction temperature, catalyst calcination temperature and catalyst amount used for transesterification were studied to optimize the reaction conditions. Biodiesel yield of 93.3% was achieved when transesterification was carried out at 65 ± 5 °C by employing 3.0 wt.% catalyst and 9:1 methanol to oil molar ratio. BET surface area indicated that the shells calcined in the temperature range of 700 °C–900 °C exhibited enhanced surface area and higher pore volume than the shells calcined at 600 °C. Reusability of the catalysts prepared in different temperatures was also investigated.

► T. striatula waste shell derived solid catalyst is used for transesterification.
► The catalyst possesses characteristics of a ‘reen catalyst’.
► Active CaO phase is formed at a calcination temperature of 800 °C.
► Catalyst exhibits High activity and environmentally benign properties.