Local Rock Sample as Catalytic Material for Biodiesel Production via Transesterification of Used Cooking Oil

Abstract

Sufficient energy supply is increasingly becoming an important mechanism for catalyzing the development of a nation. A gradual shift to biofuels development was considered advantageous in reducing the pollution and other challenges associated with fossil fuels. Specifically, biodiesel production is one of those options prioritized in the literature. Herein, we demonstrated how a local rock sample can catalyze the upgrading of used groundnut oil into fuel-grade biodiesel at the laboratory scale via transesterification with methanol. The rock-based catalyst was characterized mainly to compose of oxides in the order SiO2 > Al2O3 > CaO > MgO > Fe2O3 with traces of Na2O, K2O, MnO and P2O5. The overall catalysis was believed to be initiated and aided by support, active sites participation and promotion effect. The optimum properties of 65oC, 6:1 (methanol: oil), moderate stirring and 100 mg catalyst loading were responsible for deriving 98.05% biodiesel yield. All the assessed fuel properties were also within the standard limits approved by ASTM. Thus, this suggests the feasibilities of the process parameters employed.