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This article reports optimization and kinetic studies on extraction of Sterculia foetida seed oil and process optimization for biodiesel production from the same. The oil extraction follows first-order kinetics, and the yield was found to reach a maximum of 55.58 wt % for a 1:12 seed-to-hexane weight ratio. The activation energy and activation thermodynamic parameters at 338 K were determined as E a = 69.441 kJ mol −1 , ΔH ‡ = 66.63 kJ mol −1 , ΔS ‡ = −238.07 J mol −1 K −1 , and ΔG ‡ = 147.09 kJ mol −1 . Complete physicochemical properties of the oil were analyzed using standard methods. The low acid value of 0.42 mg of KOH g −1 for fresh oil enables alkali catalytic transesterification. Different biodiesel production parameters including methanol-to-oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, and reaction temperature were examined. An optimum yield of 95.4 wt % with a conversion of 98.91% was achieved at values of 6:1, 0.9 wt %, and 338 K, respectively. The fuel properties of the produced biodiesel were compared with the ASTM D6751 biodiesel standard.

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Heterogeneous acid catalyst of nano size was prepared by the method of sulfonation of C. pentandra stalks and used to convert C. pentandra seed oil to biodiesel. The structure of the catalyst was characterized and physicochemical properties of extracted oil as well as effects of different preparation conditions on biodiesel yield were investigated. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photograph showed that the catalyst had a porous structure which enhanced the catalytic ability. From the Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis, the catalyst specific surface area was 714 m 2 g À1 and average pore size was 4.8 nm. The optimal triglyceride conversion of 99% was attained at a reaction temperature of 220 C, methanol to oil ratio of 18 : 1 M and catalyst concentration of 1.5 wt%. Reusability of the catalyst was studied which demonstrates drastic decrease in energy expenditure and waste generation in the production of biodiesel. Biodiesel viscosity was higher whereas other properties were found to be similar to those of commercial diesel oil and compared with ASTM D6751 and EN standards.

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