Efficient Production of Wild and Non-Edible Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. Seed Oil into High-Quality Biodiesel via Novel, Green and Recyclable NiSO 4 Nano-Catalyst

Maryam Tanveer Akhtar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Maliha Asma, Mamoona Munir, Muhammad Zafar, Shazia Sultana, M. A. Mujtaba (), Abdullah Mohamed and Md Abul Kalam
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Maryam Tanveer Akhtar: Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Mushtaq Ahmad: Plant Biodiesel Lab, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
Maliha Asma: Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Mamoona Munir: Plant Biodiesel Lab, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
Muhammad Zafar: Plant Biodiesel Lab, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
Shazia Sultana: Plant Biodiesel Lab, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
M. A. Mujtaba: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, New Campus Lahore, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Abdullah Mohamed: Research Centre, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Md Abul Kalam: Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology, Sydney 2007, Australia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-26

Abstract: In the current study, a novel green nano-catalyst from Tragacanth gum (TG) was synthesized and used for sustainable biodiesel production from Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. seed oil. Brassica juncea (L.) Czern contains 30% oil on dry basis and free fatty acid content of 0.43 mg KOH/g. Physiochemical characterization of a newly synthesized nano-catalyst was performed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. The XRD results showed an average crystalline size of 39.29 nm. TEM analysis showed the cluster form of NiSO 4 nanoparticles with a size range from 30–50.5 nm. SEM analysis of the catalyst showed semispherical and ovoid shapes with surface agglomeration. The synthesized catalyst was recovered and re-used in four repeated transesterification cycles. Maximum biodiesel yield (93%) was accomplished at 6:1 methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration of 0.3 wt%, at 90 °C for 120 min at 600 rpm using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) coupled with central composite design (CCD). Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. biodiesel was characterized by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), FT-IR, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) ( 1 H, 13 C), and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) analytical techniques. The major fatty acid methyl esters were 16-Octadecenoic acid and 9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester. The fuel properties, i.e., flash point (97 °C), density (825 kg/m 3 at 40 °C), kinematic viscosity (4.66 mm 2 /s), pour point (–10 °C), cloud point (–14 °C), sulfur content (66 wt.%), and total acid number (182 mg KOH/g) were according to the International biodiesel standards. The reaction kinetic parameters were determined, and all the reactions followed Pseudo first-order kinetics. It was concluded that non-edible Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. seed oil is one of the sustainable candidates for the future biofuel industry using a cleaner, reusable, and highly active Ni-modified TG nano-catalyst.

Keywords: non-edible seed oil; biodiesel; green nano-catalyst; response surface methodology; kinetic studies; catalyst reusability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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