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Box–Behnken design-based optimization for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) fruit shell derived activated carbon as a heterogeneous base catalyst

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Abstract

In this study, activated carbon was derived from inexpensive and abundant biomass feedstock Mahogany fruit shell and activated with KOH to act as a heterogeneous base catalyst for transesterification of waste cooking oil to biodiesel. The catalyst was characterized by means of FT-IR, XRD, FESEM-EDS and particle size analysis techniques. Box–Behnken design optimization was carried out to study the complex interaction between reaction parameters. Catalyst concentration, methanol to oil molar ratio, and reaction time were varied from 0.5–2 wt%, 6:1–12:1, and 120–240 min, to obtain the maximum biodiesel conversion. Reaction parameters with the combination of 2 wt% catalyst concentration, 180 min reaction time, 12:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, and 65 °C temperature led to the best yield of 97.26%. The optimization study revealed methanol to oil molar ratio to be the most influential parameter to dictate the biodiesel conversion. High coefficient of determination (R2) value of 99.844% proved that the predicted biodiesel yields were very close to the experimental ones. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis disclosed methyl palmitate (41.18%) and methyl oleate (48.19%) to be the major composition of the synthesized biodiesel. Physicochemical properties of the biodiesel, such as viscosity (4.58 cSt), density (862 kg/m3), acid value (0.28 mg KOH/g), pour point (16 °C), and flash point (128 °C) were measured and found to be in compliance with the standards. The maximum yield coming from a quite low catalyst concentration and methanol to oil molar ratio is phenomenal from an industrial perspective.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Farid Ahmed, Institute of Glass and Ceramics Research and Testing (IGCRT), BCSIR, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh, for his help with particle size analysis. The authors are thankful to Dr. Abdul Gafur, Pilot Plant and Process Development Center (PP & PDC), BCSIR, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh, for his assistance with XRD analysis. The authors gratefully acknowledge the research facilities provided by Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD), BCSIR, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh

    Mosharof Hossain & Abu Naieum Muhammad Fakhruddin

  2. Institute of Fuel Research and Development, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh

    Mosharof Hossain, Lipiar Khan Mohammad Osman Goni, Nuzhat Muntaha, Mohammad Shah Jamal & Shah Mohammad Asaduzzaman Sujan

  3. Institute of National Analytical Research and Service, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh

    Shamim Ahmed

  4. Biomedical and Toxicological Research Institute, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh

    Dipa Islam

  5. Fiber and Polymer Research Division, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh

    Riyadh Hossen Bhuiyan

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  1. Mosharof Hossain
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  2. Lipiar Khan Mohammad Osman Goni
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Contributions

MH: Conceptualization, methodology, software, formal analysis, investigation, visualization. LKMOG: Validation, writing—original draft, visualization. NM: Writing—original draft. MSJ: Writing—review and editing, visualization. SMAS: Project administration. SA: Resources. DI: Resources. RHB: Resources. ANMF: Supervision.

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Correspondence to Mosharof Hossain.

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Hossain, M., Goni, L.K.M.O., Muntaha, N. et al. Box–Behnken design-based optimization for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) fruit shell derived activated carbon as a heterogeneous base catalyst. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 133, 117–138 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-021-01995-w

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