A Novel Heterogeneous Superoxide Support-Coated Catalyst for Production of Biodiesel from Roasted and Unroasted Sinapis arvensis Seed Oil

Abstract

Disadvantages of biodiesel include consumption of edible oils for fuel production, generation of wastewater and inability to recycle catalysts during homogenously catalyzed transesterification. The aim of the current study was to utilize low-cost, inedible oil extracted from Sinapis arvensis seeds to produce biodiesel using a novel nano-composite superoxide heterogeneous catalyst. Sodium superoxide (NaO2) was synthesized by reaction of sodium nitrate with hydrogen peroxide via spray pyrolysis, followed by coating onto a composite support material prepared from silicon dioxide, potassium ferricyanide and granite. The roasted (110 °C, 20 min) and unroasted S. arvensis seeds were subjected to high vacuum fractional distillation to afford fractions (F1, F2 and F3) that correlated to molecular weight. For example, F1 was enriched in palmitic acid (76–79%), F2 was enriched in oleic acid (69%) and F3 was enriched in erucic acid (61%). These fractions, as well as pure unroasted and roasted S. arvensis seed oils, were then transesterified using NaO2/SiO2/PFC/Granite to give biodiesel a maximum yield of 98.4% and 99.2%, respectively. In contrast, yields using immobilized lipase catalyst were considerably lower (78–85%). Fuel properties such as acid value, cetane number, density, iodine value, pour point, and saponification value were within the ranges specified in the American biodiesel standard, ASTM D6751, where applicable. These results indicated that the nano-composite catalyst was excellent for production of biodiesel from unroasted and roasted S. arvensis seed oil and its fractions.

Nano-Magnetic CaO/Fe2O3/Feldspar Catalysts for the Production of Biodiesel from Waste Oils

“…The major fatty acids identified in karanja [31], wild mustard [32], and wild safflower [33] seed oils were oleic acid (51.92%), erucic acid (41.43%), and linoleic acid (75.17%), respectively, as shown in Table 6. Other fatty acids of significance included linoleic (11.03%) and palmitic (10.33%) acids in karanja oil, oleic (23.11%), linoleic (15.75%), and eicosanoic (12.83%) acids in wild mustard oil, and oleic acid (12.98%) in wild safflower oil.…”

Enhanced Biodiesel Synthesis via a Homogenizer-Assisted Two-Stage Conversion Process Using Waste Edible Oil as Feedstock

“…Biodiesel shows the following general advantages: (1) it lowers dependence on imported oil; (2) it produces lower harmful emissions (especially SOx); (3) it limits greenhouse gas emissions; (4) it is a non-toxic fuel and biodegradable; (5) it can help improve the rural economy (circular economy) due to the use of agricultural residues; (6) it can be used without engine modifications; (7) it improves combustion because of the oxygen content; and (8) it provides good engine performance [1,2]. However, biodiesel has certain disadvantages, such as low calorific value [3], high viscosity [4], high NOx emission [5,6], and high fuel consumption [3,4]. Fortunately, these problems can be overcome by adding additives to the biodiesel blend to improve fuel properties [4].…”