Advancements in renewable energy: Achieving milder reaction conditions in biodiesel synthesis from green seed canola oil with pristine ZIF-8

This study explores the enhancement of reaction conditions for biodiesel production from green seed canola oil through the methanolysis reaction using pristine ZIF-8 as a catalyst. The research focused on the effects of varying the methanol-to-oil molar ratio, temperature, and reaction time as well as their combined effects on biodiesel yield. To analyze these factors, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) paired with Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed. The quadratic model was identified as the best fit for the experimental data, evidenced by a high determination coefficient (R²) of 0.99, with all model parameters proving significant. A comprehensive characterization of the catalyst was conducted using various techniques. The surface and pore properties were examined using N₂ adsorption-desorption measurements. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) was employed for structural analysis, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) presented the binding information of the sample. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) provided insights into the functional groups present. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) assessed the thermal stability of the catalyst. Results revealed that ZIF-8 significantly improved biodiesel production, with optimal conditions identified at a reaction temperature of 160 °C, a duration of 2.5 h, and methanol to oil (M/O) molar ratio of 26, resulting in a biodiesel yield of 85 %. This yield is close to the predicted value, demonstrating the reliability of the developed model. The kinetic analysis was performed under optimal reaction conditions. From this, the activation energy (E_a) and the pre-exponential factor (A) were obtained to be 14.5 kJ/mol and 3.4×10⁻⁷ min⁻¹, respectively. The use of pristine ZIF-8 in biodiesel production from a low-quality and cheap oil offers a more efficient and milder reaction conditions, with potential for significant reductions in production costs and environmental impact.