Synthesized heterogeneous nano‐catalyst from cow teeth for fatty acid methyl esters production through transesterification of waste vegetable frying oil and methanol: Characterization and optimization studies

Abstract

Using readily available biomass, it is possible to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) at a low cost. This study focused on the transesterification process of waste frying vegetable oil to generate FAME (biodiesel) using a cost‐effective heterogeneous nano‐catalyst synthesized from waste cow teeth (CT). The cow teeth nano‐catalyst (CTNC) was synthesized via a three‐step method of calcination, hydration‐dehydration, and re‐calcination. The synthesized CTNC samples were characterized. The Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM) was used to obtain the optimal operating conditions that maximize the FAME yield (Y 1 ) and the effects of the transesterification process conditions on FAME production. The results revealed that CTNC is of microporous structure with higher crystallinity. It consists of hydroxyapatite, beta‐tricalcium phosphate, and calcium oxide, having a mean particle size of 43.96 nm, a specific surface area of 124.77 m 2 /g, and a pore volume of 0.303 cm 3 /g. The process conditions that significantly influenced the EWFVOME yield were the CTNC loading, reaction time, and MTOR. A maximum of 98.70% (Y 1 ) was obtained at the optimum transesterification process variables of reaction time (2 h), MTOR (12:1), and CTNC loading (3.75 wt%). The biodiesel fuel properties were found to be within the acceptable values of ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 fuel standards.

Morphology-Controlled SmMn2O5 Nanocatalysts for Improved Acetone Degradation

“…After three consecutive durability tests, the acetone conversion rate of the Ag–CeO 2 catalyst still exceeds 73%. Morphological distortion of nanocatalysts with special morphology is closely related to the doping concentration and technological conditions in the preparation process, such as quantitative doping of La 2 O 3 in the preparation of PVP/CS-La 2 O 3 nanoflowers, control of NO 3 – /CH 3 COO – in the precursor solution in the preparation of nanoparticles with excellent electrochemical performance, reaction time, and methanol content in the preparation of novel solid base CT-derived nanocatalysts . With the in-depth study of mullite nanocrystals by predecessors, it has been found that the size and morphology of nanomaterials play a crucial role in their physical and chemical properties. − Especially, for the manganese-based mullite catalyst, the optimization of morphology will promote the increase of its specific surface area, surface unsaturated bonds, and active sites and thus substantially improve the activity of the catalyst …”