Biodiesel Production from Jatropha Seeds Using a Waste-Derived Periwinkle Shell Heterogeneous Catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel is increasingly gaining popularity as an alternative to diesel fuel because of its renewable, biodegradable, eco-friendly, non-toxic, and cleaner characteristics, and it may be blended with diesel in any proportion. The research on non-toxic, alternative, renewable, biodegradable fuel is attracting interest. This work involved biodiesel production from Jatropha carcass through transesterification utilising periwinkle shell as a heterogeneous catalyst. The response surface method (RSM) was employed to examine and optimise the influence of temperature, reaction time, and methanol-to-oil ratio on biodiesel output. The biodiesel was combined with diesel in various ratios. The maximum biodiesel output of 87% was achieved at 62°C, for 59 minutes, with a 6:1 alcohol-to-oil ratio. The biodiesel produces fewer CO emissions than diesel due to its higher oxygen content. The influence of blending on fuel properties, including density, specific gravity, acid value, free fatty acids (FFA), iodine value, saponification value, viscosity, and cetane index, was examined for various blends ranging from B100 (pure biodiesel) to B80, B50, B20, and BO (pure petroleum diesel) to optimise blend concentrations for use in compression engines. The high biodiesel yield under optimised conditions highlights the feasibility of scaling up this method for industrial applications, providing a renewable alternative to fossil fuels and offering a solution to the waste disposal issues associated with periwinkle shells. Overall, the study presents a significant step forward in the development of greener, more sustainable biofuels.