Process Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil and Neem Oil Blend

Sara Maen Asaad, Abrar Inayat (), Farrukh Jamil and Paul Hellier ()
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Sara Maen Asaad: Biomass and Bioenergy Research Group, Center for Sustainable Energy and Power Systems Research, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Abrar Inayat: Biomass and Bioenergy Research Group, Center for Sustainable Energy and Power Systems Research, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Farrukh Jamil: Faculty of Engineering, Muscat University, Muscat 550, Oman
Paul Hellier: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-25

Abstract: This study explores the use of a novel heterogeneous CoZnFe 4 O 8 nanocatalyst for biodiesel production from a sustainable and innovative blend of waste cooking oil and neem oil feedstock. Utilizing waste cooking oil and inedible neem oil feedstock to produce biodiesel provides a green and economical way to produce renewable and environmentally friendly fuel while simultaneously reducing waste and valorizing inedible oils. Additionally, this feedstock blend does not threaten food or land resources as opposed to feedstocks obtained from edible resources. To fulfill the rising demand for biodiesel and address issues related to lower ester yields, particularly when utilizing waste cooking oils with high free fatty acid concentration, there is an urgent need for more effective processes, including two-stage transesterification. The novel CoZnFe 4 O 8 nanocatalyst employed in this study demonstrated high efficiency in biodiesel production thanks to its high surface area, mesoporous structure, and catalytic properties. The effect of key process parameters, including catalyst concentration, reaction time, alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, and oil blend ratio, was investigated to evaluate the performance of the nanocatalyst and optimize the biodiesel yield with the help of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimized process achieved a yield of 94.23% under optimum parameters of 2.13 wt% catalyst, 6.80:1 methanol-to-oil ratio, 4 h, and a ratio of waste cooking oil to neem oil of 98.32:1.68. The predicted and experimental values were in close agreement, indicating that the model was adequate. Additionally, detailed catalyst characterization, including analysis of the surface area, structure, and thermal stability, was carried out. Similarly, the biodiesel was characterized to assess its quality through heating value, density, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ultimate analysis. The recovery and reusability of the nanocatalyst were also investigated, highlighting its potential for multiple reaction cycles. The novel CoZnFe 4 O 8 nanocatalyst and innovative feedstock blend demonstrated high efficiency in biodiesel production comparable to other nanocatalysts and feedstocks reported in the literature, highlighting their potential as an efficient and sustainable method to produce biofuels.

Keywords: biodiesel; response surface methodology; optimization; anova; waste oil; nanocatalyst; characterization; catalyst reusability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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