Optimum Biodiesel Production from Ternary Non-edible Oil Using Calcined Snail Shell and Doped Snail Shell Catalyst: A Comparative Approach Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

Two heterogeneous catalysts were developed; snail shell (SS), and doped snail shell (DSS) catalyst for the synthesis of biodiesel from an oil blend of waste vegetable oil (WVO), jatropha oil (JO) and neem seed oil (NSO) characterized with an FFA of 4.2 %. The developed catalysts were characterized. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used in modelling and optimization of the reaction conditions. The biodiesel produced was characterized and reusability of the catalysts were examined. Catalyst characterization revealed that both catalysts had high CaO-content of 84.5 and 58.7% and high surface area of 202.58 and 221.02 m2/g for SS and DSS catalyst respectively. RSM was efficient in the modelling the process with high R2 values of 0.9587 and 0.9447 respectively. Optimum biodiesel yields of 83.31 and 98.14 % was obtained using SS and DSS catalyst respectively. Comparing the performance of both catalyst, DSS catalyst performed better with higher surface area and a higher optimum biodiesel yield. The properties of biodiesel produced using both catalysts at optimized conditions were in conformity with ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. Reusability studies revealed that both developed catalyst can be reused five times without excessive reduction in biodiesel yield.